Establishing the cause of a motor vehicle accident can be a time-consuming task, but occasionally, experienced police officers can assess fault without taking any significant time. Oftentimes, the post-accident position of the vehicles or debris can tell a story that does not require much investigation to determine fault. A recent head-on collision in Catawba County makes this point with particular emphasis on “reading” the scene of the accident.
The accident
According to police officers on the scene, a north bound Hyundai Elantra was driving faster than the posted limit on Balls Creek School Road. The driver of the Hyundai lost control, and his vehicle swerved to the right. In attempting to return to the driving lane, the driver over-corrected and crossed the centerline into the southbound lane. The Hyundai hit a southbound Kia Optima head-on. The driver of the Hyundai, a man from Conover, died in the collision. He was not wearing a seat belt. The driver of the Kia was taken by helicopter to Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. A passenger in the Kia died at the scene. Both persons in the Kia were wearing seatbelts.
An aerial photograph of the scene showed a red car in the middle of the highway and a black car just off the road. Both vehicles suffered extensive damage, and debris was scattered across the highway. Police have not released any information about a possible cause of the accident, apart from noting that the northbound vehicle was speeding. Police have also remained silent on whether alcohol may have been a cause of the collision.
What now?
Preliminary reports about the accident appear to point at the driver of the northbound Hyundai was negligent in failing to control his vehicle and ending up in the wrong driving lane. Further post-accident investigation will be deeded to verify this conclusion.
If this preliminary conclusion is verified by post-accident investigation, the family of the man driving the Kia would appear to have a convincing wrongful death claim against the driver of the Hyundai. The status of the deceased passenger in the Kia is unknown at the present time, and she may have survivors who are considering a similar claim.
Anyone who has been injured or lost a loved one in a head-on collision may wish to seek damages from the driver whose conduct caused the accident. Advice from an experienced accident attorney can be very helpful in assessing the evidence and estimating the likelihood of recovering damages.
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