An August 23 accident in Bucks County killed a 25-year-old man, reportedly. According to authorities, two other people suffered critical injuries in the wreck and were airlifted to a hospital.
According to the Pennsylvania State Police, the accident happened around 5:30 p.m. That is when a 72-year-old woman driving a Ford F-150 south on Richlandtown Pike in Springfield Township veered into oncoming traffic and hit a northbound Honda Civic head-on. The 72-year-old woman reportedly suffered moderate injuries as a result of the collision. Furthermore, the Ford pickup truck rolled onto its side and sustained considerable damage.
The 25-year-old man was driving the Honda at the time of the head-on collision. Two passengers in the vehicle, ages 22 and 24, suffered major injuries requiring aerial transport to Fountain Hill's St. Luke's University Hospital for emergency treatment.
A fatal car accident like this one usually warrants an exhaustive investigation. When such an investigation yields substantial evidence indicating that the accident was caused by reckless or negligent driving, then the at-fault party may be held accountable for the accident even if there are no criminal charges filed. For, people who suffer damages in an accident caused by another party's actionable behavior may pursue civil action, such as a wrongful death claim, against the at-fault party.
In this way, certain family members of deceased accident victims may seek restitution for the economic losses they suffered in relation to the fatal event. For instance, claimants in a wrongful death claim may seek financial compensation for the expenses associated with the decedent's funeral and estate administration as well as lost earnings.