MAN CHARGED IN FATAL MISSOURI HIT-AND-RUN CRASH

On behalf of Hyland Law Firm, LLC posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.

A 21-year-old Missouri man has been charged in connection to a fatal hit-and-run accident in Independence on March 27. The crash happened at around 9:15 p.m.

According to police, the suspect was driving a 2008 Dodge pickup truck east on Highway 24 when he slammed into the back of a 2014 Mazda 6 that was stopped for a red light at Blue Mills Road. Witnesses said the suspect kept going after the collision. At least two people followed him and tried to box him in with their vehicles until authorities arrived. He then reportedly jumped from his pickup and ran across the road into an industrial park near Fort Osage High School. He was eventually apprehended by police.

The driver of the Mazda, a 34-year-old postal worker, was transported to an area hospital where he later died. He is survived by a wife. The suspect, a Sibley resident, was arraigned in a Jackson County court on March 30. He was charged with involuntary manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident.

When someone is killed in a car crash, their family may have to deal with serious financial hardships in addition to their grief. If the deceased victim was a primary earner, their family may have difficulty making ends meets in the future. However, with the assistanceof an attorney, the victim's next of kin could file a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver that caused the crash. A successful claim could bring needed financial compensation that covers pecuniary losses, like funeral costs and loss of income. It may also lead to an award for non-pecuniary damages such as loss of companionship.

Source: KCTV, "21-year-old driver charged in fatal hit-and-run accident," Laura McCallister, Elisabeth Rentschler, Chris Oberholtz and Jamie Oberg, March 30, 2015