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Did seatbelts save family of five? Two dead and five seriously injured in fatal head-on wrong way accident, in West Virginia.

Posted by David Nemeroff | Mar 19, 2012 | 0 Comments

As an experienced Chicago personal injury law firm, we recognize that with warm weather and Spring Break fast approaching, families across the US will be packing up and traveling the highways to visit a favorite destination. Many are planning a week of relaxation and fun with family and friends.

The Dudan family of North Carolina was planning on doing just that. They were driving on Interstate I-64 on their way from North Carolina to Chicago, when the families SUV was hit head-on by a truck traveling in the wrong direction. The Dudans were traveling with their three children, Alena, 3, Jacob, 7 and Casey, 9. According to police, all five members of the family were wearing seatbelts. This safety device saved their lives!

The two occupants in the truck were pronounced dead at the scene. They were identified as Derrick Williams, 27, of Gallipolis, Ohio, and Andy Withrow, 29, of Albany, Ohio. All five Dudan family members' were hospitalized. Two of the family members remain in critical condition with serious injuries. According to police, the driver of the pickup truck drove the wrong way up the exit ramp onto I-64. The driver of the SUV reported that the accident occurred in a split second. The trucks headlights appeared, and she attempted to swerve. She could not escape the path of the on coming truck. Witnesses reported the same findings.

As veteran Chicago injury lawyers, we recognize that head-on collisions are one of the most serious types of car accidents. A head-on collision typically occurs because a driver has crossed over the median or a lane of traffic. Often times drivers are distracted, using a cell-phone or texting on their phone, falling asleep at the wheel, driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. Head-on collisions usually involve a higher rate of speed than other crashes. The frontal impact can cause your body to lunge forward and back quickly, leading to catastrophic injuries. Injuries could be to the head, neck, shoulder and torso. Many times serious fractures of the legs and arms occur during a head-on collision. Unfortunately, in the majority of head-on crashes the injuries sustained are often catastrophic or result in death.

As experienced Chicago personal injury lawyers know, airbags and seatbelts can prevent or lessen some types of injuries or prevent death. Many of the motor vehicle accident cases we handle include:

  • Head-on collision
  • Rear end crash
  • SUV rollover accidents
  • T-bone accidents and side impact collisions
  • Chain reaction accidents and Vehicle pile-ups
  • Underinsured or uninsured driver accidents
  • Blind spot collisions
  • Trucking accidents
  • Motorcycle crashes
  • Fatal car accidents
  • Drunk driving accidents
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Recreational vehicle accidents
  • Highway collisions and accidents

If you are involved in a head-on collision, never accept an insurance settlement without consulting an experienced Chicago car accident lawyer. The majority of head-on collisions, the driver of the vehicle that crossed into the wrong lane or way of traffic is found to be at fault for the collision. If this is the case, the driver's insurance company may promptly offer a settlement. The settlement may be a large sum of money and accident victims will be tempted to accept the settlement. When you accept a settlement, you will be forfeiting your right to seek future compensation for your injuries. Injuries can be more serious than they present at the time of the accident. They may require additional treatment or surgery. Before accepting any settlement, meet with an experienced Chicago injury attorney for a free consultation.

About the Author

David Nemeroff

David Nemeroff was voted one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the entire state of Illinois (out of 83,000 lawyers) by Super Lawyers Magazine...

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