Troopers commenced an investigation into a fatal accident that involved a vehicle and a business establishment in Butler County, according to the Pennsylvania State Police. The May 30 incident occurred at a hairstyling and tanning salon in Jefferson at approximately 11:30 p.m.
Authorities said a vehicle crashed through the exterior wall of the business, killing a customer who was waiting for an appointment. Purportedly, the driver of the vehicle was arriving to the salon for an appointment as well. Authorities said it was not immediately clear what caused the driver to crash into the building.
Accidents like this one may have any number of potential causes. One possibility is that a faulty auto part caused the driver to crash into the building. For example, evidence might come to light indicating that the vehicle had a sticking accelerator pedal.
If that were the case, certain family members of the person who died in the crash may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim against the party responsible for the defective auto part, such as the automaker or the relevant parts manufacturer. In this way, the family of the decedent may seek financial compensation for the damages they suffered as a result of the fatal car accident. These damages may include but are not limited to the expenses associated with the funeral services, burial and estate administration of their loved one. Moreover, the decedent's family may seek restitution for lost earnings if the decedent had contributed income to the family household while alive.
Pursuing such a lawsuit can often be complicated and adversarial. For this reason, many people in similar situations retain a wrongful death attorney prior to filing suit.