A four-car crash in Harrison County near Corydon has left two people dead.
Last Friday afternoon, Stephanie Nall and her fiancé, Christopher
Hicks, were driving south on Highway 135. Nall’s two children, aged
13 and 15, were passengers in the green Chevrolet when the accident occurred.
The family was slowed or stopped prior to turning into
Hayswood Nature Reserve when a mini-van traveling in the same direction braked and swerved but
rear-ended the Chevrolet. The rear-end collision forced the Chevrolet
into northbound traffic, where it was clipped by another vehicle. As the
car spun, a northbound truck collided with it, crashing into the driver’s side.
Stephanie Nall and Christopher Hicks were pronounced dead at the scene.
Nall’s 15-year-old daughter, Emily, was ejected from the vehicle
and required surgery to remove her spleen. The younger daughter, Sarah,
broke her pelvis and leg. Both girls are expected to recover after being
cared for in a Louisville hospital. This terrible tragedy is still under
investigation.
Legal Options When A Child Loses a Parent in a Car Accident
When children lose a parent or parents in a car accident, their legal options
depend on the situation arising to the accident in the first place. Certainly,
the first option to consider is whether or not someone’s negligence
or wrongdoing caused the crash. The negligent party could be another driver,
a vehicle manufacturer or designer who created a defective product, or
even a governmental entity, such as a city. It is always advisable to
consult an attorney with experience in car accident and wrongful death
cases, as these experienced attorneys will understand exactly how to investigate
your case to discover who may have contributed to the accident.
If someone dies as a result of another’s negligence, a
wrongful death claim can be brought. Wrongful death damages are payable to minor children
and can include:
- Medical costs incurred prior to death;
- Funeral and burial costs;
- Loss of the deceased individual’s income;
- Loss of inheritance;
- Value of services, such as caretaking, the deceased would have provided;
- Loss of care and guidance the deceased would have provided;
- Loss of love and companionship.
Have you sustained injuries due to a vehicle, motorcycle, or pedestrian
accident? Do you believe another person’s wrongful actions were
responsible for your pain and suffering? Are you caring for a child who
lost his or her parent in a car crash? Wagner Reese is an Indianapolis-based
personal injury law firm with years of experience pursuing
vehicular accident and wrongful death cases. Call us now for a FREE consultation: (888) 204-8440.