Every year, far too many people die from injuries they suffered in crashes on Wisconsin’s roadways. Many of these car accident victims died because another driver was negligent. Therefore, since it is up to surviving family members to deal with the aftermath of the death of their loved ones, part of their responsibilities might be to explore their legal rights under Wisconsin law in connection with the filing of a wrongful death claim.
A husband who recently lost his wife in a crash on Wisconsin Highway 70 might do just that. He and his wife were traveling east on the highway sometime prior to 3:18 p.m. on Sept. 15. At that time, law enforcement officials received a call regarding a head-on collision involving two vehicles. Local sheriff’s deputies, troopers with the Wisconsin State Patrol and other emergency responders rushed to the scene.
Upon arrival, it was discovered that the 57-year-old driver of the westbound vehicle and the 78-year-old woman in the eastbound vehicle died from the injuries each of them suffered in the impact. No information was available regarding the condition of the deceased victim’s husband. The preliminary investigation revealed that the westbound vehicle crossed over into the couple’s lane of travel and slammed into their vehicle.
The deceased woman’s husband retains the right to file a wrongful death claim against the estate of the other driver. Establishing that his wife’s death was due to the other driver’s negligence could result in an award of damages that could help with the unexpected financial losses associated with this car accident. Furthermore, he might also be able to file a personal injury claim against the estate seeking restitution for the injuries he suffered.