The town of Versailles, Indiana is reeling from the news of a car accident that took the lives of three local teenagers. The accident occurred Thursday, March 7 when two pickup trucks collided after a local church function. The three victims were declared dead at the scene of the accident. Our condolences go out to the families and friends of those teenagers.
Three other teens were hospitalized from injuries from the crash. Their injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.
This past year has been devastating for the small farming town of Versailles having suffered several tragic losses:
- In May 2012, a 15 year old highschool freshman in a all-terrain vehicle accident
- In December 2012, an 18 year old from a texting while driving accident.
- In March 2011, two elementary students from an accident with a semi-truck.
The teens were students are South Ripley High School. That morning they were serving breakfast at a church to support the Future Farmers of America, of which one of the victims was president. After the event, the students got into two separate pickup trucks and left their own separate routes.
Investigation of the accident has revealed that both vehicles failed to make a stop both entering the intersection of a four-way stop. Rumors of racing have, for the moment, been put aside until further investigation is complete.
Katherine Taul of the Ripley County Tourism Bureau highlighted the impact these accidents make on the small community. “These are all very, very tight communities and everyone knows everyone, so even if you weren’t directly connected or related to them, it still touches everybody.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, more Americans aged 5 to 34 are killed in motor vehicle crashes than from any other single cause. Such troubling statistics leave families looking for justice and in many cases in need of funds for expenses related to treatment, emergency services, and funeral costs.
For families needing to file suit on behalf of a loved one lost in an auto accident, Indiana has a wrongful death statute they can recover under. In Indiana, survivors must prove fault of the other driver to succeed in a claim against that driver’s insurance company. The lawsuit must be brought within two years of the accident.
The elements necessary to win a wrongful death suit: (i) the death of a human being; (i) caused by negligence of the other party; (iii) the suit brought by family members suffering monetary injury as a result of the death; and (iv) the appointment of a personal representative for the decedent’s estate.
Alternatively, a family member may also have a claim for a survival action, which is a lawsuit brought on behalf of the decedent for the pain and suffering they experienced before death.
The Indiana wrongful death attorneys at Parr Richey Frandsen Patterson Kruse are compassionate zealous advocates for those who are victims of Indiana automobile accidents. We are experienced at dealing with insurance and possible litigation paths. If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of an accident, we are there to help obtain compensation for those damages. Contact us today online or at 317-505-1342 to schedule a free and confidential consultation with one of our attorneys.
More Blog Posts:
Commercial Trucker Hours-of-Service Regulations Invoked in Wrongful Death Lawsuit, Indiana Injury Lawyer blog, November 23, 2012
Law Allowing Wrongful Death Claims for Unborn Children Used for First Time in Car Accident Lawsuit: Baumann v. Slezak, et al, Indiana Injury Lawyer Blog, November 16, 2012