Missouri highways can be dangerous, even during early morning hours. On a recent Thursday morning, at approximately 10 a.m., a vehicle that was traveling in an eastbound lane crossed over the yellow line and headed into oncoming traffic. A westbound vehicle was struck by the vehicle of the wrong-way driver. The head-on collision had disastrous results.
Sadly, the 18-year-old female who was behind the wheel of the car that veered out of its lane was killed. A 37-year-old woman and a 4-year-old child in the other vehicle were transported to a hospital for emergency care. Both were listed in serious condition. The young woman’s death marked the 44th auto-related fatality in Newton County this year.
What does “serious condition” mean?
When rescuers or a medical team lists an accident victim in a serious condition, it means that the individual’s vital signs are not stable. A person in serious condition is in a life-threatening situation. Emergency room doctors often say that the 24 hours following a collision determine whether a patient in serious condition will live or die.
When another driver’s negligence was responsible for a collision, a recovering victim can seek restitution in a Missouri court. If the victim is a juvenile, a parent or guardian may file a claim on his or her behalf. If the person deemed responsible for damages died in the accident, a plaintiff may file a claim against his or her estate.