Motor vehicle collisions are part of daily life in Oklahoma. While most people go years or even decades without experiencing a collision, they do happen every day across the state. Many of these collisions only cause property damage or minor injuries, but some of them are more severe.
The force of a car crash can cause debilitating or even fatal injuries. Sometimes, those who have lost a loved one in a crash take the matter to civil court. Why are wrongful death lawsuits frequently a response to fatal Oklahoma collisions?
Insurance simply cannot cover enough
Some vehicles have far more insurance coverage than others. Individual motorists have the option of investing in as much liability coverage as they deem necessary based on their personal resources. However, many drivers only carry what the state requires, and that may only cover a fraction of the total cost generated in a wreck. Insurance policy limits create an absolute threshold for compensation.
No matter how much a crash technically costs a family, they will never be able to receive more than the limit for the policy that applies. Even if the vehicle that caused the crash was a commercial truck with $750,000 of liability coverage or more, the lifetime expenses of losing a loved one could be far higher than that. Families need to seek compensation not just for medical expenses and funeral costs but also for a lifetime of lost earning potential.
Lawsuits give people a sense of closure
Simply filing an insurance claim against someone’s policy won’t likely seem like enough of a consequence for the person who caused the deadly crash. A successful wrongful death lawsuit technically ends with the courts affirming the plaintiff’s claim that a person or business is directly responsible for someone dying. For those impacted by recent tragedy, that judgment can give them a sense of closure and justice.
Pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit is a reasonable and appropriate response to a tragic fatal car crash caused by someone’s illegal traffic behavior or negligence.
