A 17-year-old high school student is dead following a traffic wreck in North Carolina. The girl was involved in an accident with a box truck. The fatal truck accident reportedly had a profound impact on her classmates, prompting school administrators to send crisis teams consisting of social workers, counselors and psychologists to the school to help the students cope with the victim's death.
According to the state Department of Transportation, North Carolina saw 42,886 car accidents involving teenagers in 2010, with 95 resulting in death. A total of 1,030 of these accident occurred in New Hanover County. North Carolina residents affected by injuries or fatalities related to traffic accident may be able to seek compensation by filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.
Troopers with the North Carolina highway patrol told reporters that the recent accident occurred as the girl was traveling in an SUV with a 23-year-old driver. It is unclear whether there were any additional occupants in the vehicle. The SUV was traveling on a state highway when it collided with a Freightliner box truck.
While police are still investigating the cause of the accident, preliminary reports suggest that the driver of the SUV lost control of the vehicle, causing it to veer off the roadway. It is then speculated that he then overcorrected and crossed the center line, after which the SUV was struck by the oncoming truck.
The teenage victim was killed in the crash, while the driver of the SUV was transported to a medical care facility where he remains in critical condition at last report. The box truck's driver, 42, was treated for minor injuries at a nearby hospital. No charges have been filed pending the completion of the NCHP's investigation into the incident.
North Carolina residents who have lost a loved one to a fatal accident or who have been hurt in a crash should contact a qualified attorney to determine the best course of action for their situation. In some cases, a lawsuit may be able to secure them compensation for their pain and suffering.
Source: WNCT, "Update: Crisis Teams Available After Greenville Teen Dies," Kristen Hunter, May 31, 2012