On behalf of Rooz Law posted in Car Accidents on Monday, October 13, 2014.
A 57-year-old vice principal, his 49-year-old schoolteacher wife and a 26-year-old construction worker are all dead after an Ontario car accident on Sept. 28. According to police, the accident near Orangeville occurred around 11 p.m. Fire resulting from the crash left both vehicles unrecognizable, according to authorities.
The 26-year-old was allegedly speeding in his Volkswagen and ran a stop sign on the Mono-Amaranth Townline. He T-boned the Jeep Liberty SUV driven by the vice principal. Both vehicles were flipped upside down in the crash. Authorities say they do not believe the driver of the Volkswagen saw the stop sign because they could not find evidence that he made an effort to stop.
One witness reported hearing the impact, seeing the fire and calling 911. An investigation into the accident is ongoing, including the examination of the remains of the vehicles.
In car accidents such as this one, surviving family members may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. For example, if a mechanical failure of the Volkswagen driver’s brakes caused the accident, both families might be able to sue the manufacturer. If investigators agree that the stop sign was obstructed, then he might not be held responsible.
However, in cases like this, if the other driver was negligent, the families of anyone who was killed may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit even if the driver is deceased. Finding a driver negligent means demonstrating that the driver did not take a reasonable amount of care. For example, if a driver with functioning breaks sped past a stop sign, his actions will likely be considered negligent, and he may be liable for the crash.
Source: thebarrieexaminer.com, “Three killed in crash near Orangeville”, Tracy McLaughlin, September 29, 2014
