Just two days before Christmas, a 46-year-old mother died near Port St. Lucie when her motorcycle collided with a minivan that pulled out in front of her. The woman was thrown from her motorcycle and died at the scene.
According to witnesses, the woman was not speeding at the time of the car accident. The 52-year-old minivan driver simply did not see her.
The woman’s teenage daughter said she was uncertain about what to do on learning that her mother had been killed and that she was suddenly an orphan. She was faced with paying for funeral expenses and making other final arrangements. Complicating her new situation was the fact that her mother had been in the middle of a bankruptcy, making the daughter’s tasks and sudden change in living situation more difficult.
Fortunately, two businesses have offered to help with funeral expenses, and other concerned citizens have set up fundraisers. The daughter will stay with neighbors temporarily until bankruptcy proceedings have been resolved.
Drivers of cars and trucks should always be aware of other vehicles on the road, including motorcycles and bicycles. Because of the minimal protection offered by their vehicles, motorcyclists and bicyclists are vulnerable to serious injury or death in collisions with larger vehicles.
The death of a loved from an accident can be heartbreaking and financially devastating. Surviving family members often are left with expensive medical costs and the loss of the deceased person’s income. In cases such as this one, family members can seek compensation from a negligent driver through a settlement or by filing a wrongful death lawsuit if negligence appears to be a factor. Proving another party’s negligence can be difficult, however. If only for this reason, survivors should consider the help of a qualified legal professional.
Source: CBS 12, “CBS 12 Viewers Reach Out to Teen Orphaned in Crash,” Jana Eschbach, Dec. 26, 2013
