Running a red light is a traffic violation that can result in a ticket. It is also negligence. Negligence means the failure to exercise reasonable care, and if it causes injury or death it can give rise to liability in a civil lawsuit. A recent fatal accident in Phoenix appears to be the result of a driver running a red light.
Authorities responded to a motorcycle crash near the intersection of 52nd Street and Van Buren Street. The collision involved a motorcycle and a pickup truck . According to preliminary reports, the 58-year-old male motorcyclist was traveling southbound on 52nd Street when the pickup truck, driven by a 74-year-old man and traveling eastbound on Van Buren, ran a red light and collided with the motorcyclist.
Emergency crews responded to the wreck and transported the seriously injured motorcyclist to the hospital where he later died. The fatal accident remains under investigation, but authorities believe that impairment was not a factor in the accident. No citations have been issued at this time.
A driver whose negligence caused an accident can be held liable for monetary damages in a civil lawsuit. The loved ones of the deceased can file a wrongful death claim and recover compensation for their loss. The award will typically cover medical bills, funeral costs, loss of support and loss of companionship.
A fatal motorcycle accident can be a difficult event to cope with for the friends and family of the deceased. The coping process is made more difficult when there are numerous bills piling up from the accident, which constantly remind the family of their loss. Those affected by a fatal crash should understand their options for compensation. This can not only alleviate financial hardship but can assist them in the coping process.
Source: Abc 15, “Motorcyclist killed in Phoenix accident,” Deborah Stocks, Sep. 09, 2013