Pennsylvania roadways can be dangerous, especially during rush hour traffic. All drivers are obligated to adhere to traffic laws and safety regulations to help reduce the chances of motor vehicle accidents occurring. A jury recently determined that a man who was driving a box truck was guilty of reckless endangerment after his distraction at the wheel resulted in a fatal collision.
The driver in question was traveling along with a passenger during rush hour traffic. He told police that he and his passenger had been looking around in the vehicle to try to find a missing cellphone moments before the collision took place. The driver reportedly looked up just in time to see that traffic in front of him had stopped, but he was unable to keep his vehicle from slamming into the rear of the car in front of him. The force of the impact then sent that vehicle crashing into another.
Sadly, the driver of the first vehicle that was hit did not survive. His wife, who was a passenger in his car, suffered severe injuries. The box truck driver argued in criminal court that his actions showed no criminal intent. The court disagreed, ruling that the jury was justified in its decision that the driver was reckless when he took his eyes off the road during rush hour traffic.
Pennsylvania collisions like this one lead to wrongful death claims in civil court. A surviving spouse or other immediate family member of a fatally injured accident victim may seek financial recovery for damages against the person deemed responsible for his or her loved one’s death. Most people considering filing such a claim ask experienced personal injury law attorneys to represent them in court.