Head-on car accident in Illinois claims life of toddler

Nothing is more devastating than losing a child in a fatal accident. These situations are even more tragic when the car accident could have been prevented. The members of an Illinois family are picking up the pieces after a tragic car accident that caused the death of an 18-month-old toddler in early December.

The Illinois State Police reported that a 43-year-old man was eastbound on a state highway when he moved across the center line and into the lane of oncoming traffic. The reasons for this have not yet been determined. Police say that a 66-year-old woman who was traveling in the opposite direction attempted to avoid the collision, but failed, and was struck head on.

It was reported that an 18-month-old baby who was a passenger in the woman’s car suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to a hospital, but only survived until the next day. The woman driver was transported to a hospital where she received treatment for injuries that were reported not to be life-threatening. Authorities say the male driver who is believed to have caused the accident suffered fatal injuries and was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital. According to the media report, an accident investigation is underway.

The financial consequences of a fatal car accident can be staggering. Medical expenses for treatment after a crash, along with the costs of a funeral and burial can be overwhelming. Although no amount of money can ever fill the void left by the loss of a child, a grieving family can pursue compensation needed to cover the losses incurred. A family retains the right to file a wrongful death claim against the estate of an alleged negligent driver in an Illinois civil court. If such a claim is successfully presented, the court may award financial compensation to cover all damages as allowed by applicable state laws.

Source: thesouthern.com, “Update: Crash on Illinois 146 in Union County leaves two dead“, Dec. 12, 2014