People in Pennsylvania may hear news of a single-car crash and immediately assume liability issues to be a moot point (after all, with only one vehicle involved, how can there be any question of fault?). Yet this assumption overlooks the fact that a single vehicle can contain multiple occupants, and that the driver of that vehicle may have a duty of care to their passengers.
Exactly how far that duty of care extends, however, may be open for debate. Some might say that a passenger (or more specifically, an adult passenger) accepts any risks inherent with traveling in a vehicle by consenting to a ride. Yet few may argue against the point that drivers are solely responsible for their own reckless actions.
Single-car crash in Forward Township kills two
This debate might certainly surface as the family members and friends deal with the tragic deaths of two Alleghany County residents caused by a single-car accident. CBS Pittsburgh reports that investigators believe the car lost control and rolled several times before coming to a stop atop a roadside hill. First responders found the driver dead at the scene. His female passenger later died after rescuers transported her to a local hospital for treatment. Authorities asserted their belief that excessive speed likely has a factor in causing the accident.
Holding a driver responsible for reckless action
When a driver drives recklessly, passengers (no matter their age) may feel justified in seeking legal action against them. Some might question the wisdom of seeking compensation of a deceased person (such as the driver in the aforementioned example). Yet an accident victim can attempt to hold one’s estate liable. Doing so requires legal expertise that one may only have access to through collaboration with an experienced legal professional.
