Ohio is host to more car and truck traffic every year. That trend has unfortunately brought increasing numbers of car accidents to the forefront of law enforcement’s attention in the state.

A 63-year-old woman tragically lost her life while en route to her family reunion in rural Ohio. She was in the passenger seat in a car driven by a 17-year-old driver when it was struck by a pickup truck.

The car stopped at a stop sign and then continued into an intersection with a busy two-lane road. The driver of the pickup truck did not stop in time to prevent a collision with the passenger side door of the vehicle.

Although all three people in the collision were wearing seat belts, both drivers suffered minor injuries and the passenger of the car was pronounced dead at the scene.

Drug use, alcohol abuse and cellphone use — all leading factors in causing fatal car accidents — do not appear to be factors in this collision. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating, although no charges have been filed against either driver at present.

Motor vehicle collisions, even those at low speed, can have disastrous consequences, resulting in injuries, long-term disability and even fatalities. It is vital for drivers to pay close attention to all hazards while on the road.

Accidents that can be legally determined to be the fault of one or more parties may become the subject of lawsuits aimed at making victims and their families whole after a loss or setback.

Legal representation is an important step in weighing the options of settlements, court actions or other legal recourse after a tragic accident.

Source: Fox 8 Cleveland, “OSP: woman killed in Auburn Township crash on her way to family reunion,” Anne Domeck, Sep. 03, 2017