Unfortunately, tragedy can occur at any moment on the streets of Seattle. Recently, an entire family was hit by a car while crossing the street in a residential area of Seattle. It is believed that the driver that struck the group was driving drunk at the time of the accident. He was arrested, and is currently being held on $2.5 million bail. The victims of this horrific accident are a 33 year old woman, her 10 day old son and the paternal grandparents of the child.
The two grandparents, who had recently moved to Seattle to be closer to their grandson, died as a result of their injuries. The mother, a pediatric nurse, and her son are currently reported as being in critical condition.
It is inconceivable how any family could survive such a tragedy. Although clearly no amount of money could ever repair the damage that this driver has done to their lives, the victims may be entitled to receive compensation for this accident.
The surviving relatives of the grandparents may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death action in court. In this type of action, the relatives would be entitled to recover damages for pain and suffering, funeral expenses and loss of future income, among others. They may also be entitled to seek punitive damages due to the apparent reckless and wanton behavior of this driver.
Additionally, the mother and son may be entitled to seek compensation for their injuries. They may be entitled to receive damages for pain and suffering, all medical expenses and damages for any permanent disability or impairment caused by the accident. In addition, they may also be entitled to pursue punitive damages against the driver of the car.
Source: CNS News, “Baby, mom hurt in crash that killed grandparents,” March 27, 2013.