One woman is dead and another is critical after a box truck hit the back of a Honda vehicle in Pitt County on Tuesday morning. According to reports the accident occurred on Highway 264.
Police reports say that Crystal Brann, 41, and her mother Barbara Tripp, 69, were traveling in a Honda vehicle when they stopped in the westbound lane of Highway 264 near its intersection with Highway 33 at around 1:15 am.
A box truck driven by Tristan Branch, travelling in the same direction, then hit the Honda from behind. Brann died of her injuries while her mother is in Vidant Medical Center in a critical state.
No Charges Yet
The Highway patrol troopers who received information about the crash and arrived at the accident site are continuing their investigation and have not yet charged anyone.
Compensation for Truck Accidents
When a person is injured in a trucking accident, they are often unsure about whom to claim compensation from. This is because there are many potential entities that could be held liable for the accident and they could end up refusing to allow their insurance company to pay the compensation. However, this situation has now been simplified since federal laws govern trucking accidents. According to these laws the company with the trucking permit whose name is on the truck is liable for the compensation, regardless of whether the truck has been leased, is being driven by an employee, or by an independent contractor.
Causes of Truck Accidents
Apart from fixing liability for the truck accident with the owner of the permit, the actual cause of the accident can also be a factor in determining who is liable for the compensation. Trucking accidents can be caused by driver error or driver fatigue or because of a mechanical fault in the truck. When the cause is driver error or driver fatigue the permit holder or their insurance company will have to pay the compensation. However, if the accident was caused because of a mechanical error in the truck, then either the manufacturer or the service mechanic will be liable for the compensation.
Wrongful Death Compensation
When a loved one dies in a truck accident the liable party or their insurance company has to pay compensation for the wrongful death. In such cases, the financial dependents of the dead person are eligible to receive compensation to cover funeral costs as well as obtain compensation for the loss of financial support.
Medical Treatment
In the case of those who have sustained an injury because of the truck accident, the liable party will have to cover the cost of medical treatment, loss of income or earnings, and compensate for pain and suffering endured.
Complex Cases
Often truck accidents are complex and only an experienced truck accident attorney will be able to ensure that the right party is approached to obtain compensation. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident or you have lost a loved one in a truck accident, retain the services of an experienced truck accident lawyer who can ensure that you are not railroaded in this process and become a victim for the second time.