A wrongful death lawsuit was recently filed against a West Palm Beach, Florida construction company and two construction truck drivers, alleging that Ranger Construction Industries and two truck drivers who were involved in a fatal highway accident negligently caused the death of 17 year old Liza A.
The wrongful death lawsuit was brought by plaintiffs Miguel A. and Aris L., Liza’s parents. Liza had recently graduated from American Heritage High School in Florida when she was killed in a tragic traffic accident on Interstate 75 in Pembroke Pines.
The accident occurred in an area where Ranger Construction was working on an express lane project at the request of Florida’s Department of Transportation.
The tragedy was a chain reaction crash that killed both Liza and a 29-year-old third-year medical student, who was about to begin his clinical rotations up in New York. A passenger in the medical student’s car also suffered serious injuries and required hospitalization.
According to police reports, the crash began around 11:35 p.m. after a flatbed trailer carrying large concrete barriers left the construction area located on the highway’s median and was struck by the medical student’s car.
Reports suggest that the impact from the medical student’s car carried both the construction trailer and the car nearly a quarter mile down the highway. This impact caused the roof of the medical student’s vehicle to be sheared off.
As the collision was happening, Liza’s 2013 BMW crashed into the left rear-end of the construction truck. The impact from this crash caused several of the concrete barriers to fall from the truck, crushing Liza’s car.
Seconds later a second truck hit the wall barrier and then smashed into the construction truck. Neither of the two truck drivers were injured, while both Liza and the medical student were pronounced dead on the scene.
The wrongful death lawsuit alleges that the construction company was negligent in managing how the trucks entered and exited the Ranger construction zone near the accident site. The amount of damages requested by Liza’s parents has not yet been specified.
Overview of wrongful death lawsuits
A wrongful death lawsuit can be brought against any person or company who either negligently, recklessly, or intentionally causes the death of another person.
In order to bring a successful wrongful death claim, plaintiffs must prove at least two things. First that the person’s death was caused by the other party’s negligent or intentional acts, and second, that the plaintiffs suffered damages due to the death of that person.
State law determines who is allowed to bring a wrongful death lawsuit. Usually courts allow immediate family members to file a claim for the loss of a loved one. Immediate family members include spouses, children, and parents. Other states allow extended family members to file claims. These wrongful death lawsuits range from fairly straight forward to extremely complex.
Obtain a Free Wrongful Death Case Evaluation
If your loved one died from a personal injury caused by the negligence or intentional misconduct of another party, you may be able to pursue compensation for your loss, including but not limited to: medical or funeral expenses, loss of financial support, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and punitive damages.
The following types of wrongful death cases are common examples of what a family member can sue for:
- Car Accidents
- Bicycle or Pedestrian Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Boating Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Medication Errors
- Workplace Accidents
- Drowning Accidents
- Nursing Home Neglect/Abuse
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Defective Products
- Other Personal Injury Claims that Caused the Death
