You should never have to worry about getting seriously injured when you get behind the wheel of your vehicle. However, there are times when the careless or negligent actions of other people can lead to dangerous situations. At Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli and Pratt, P.A, our Hawaii wrongful death attorneys are ready to help is you lose a loved one because of another person’s actions. Today, we want to discuss a recently filed wrongful death claim over an SUV versus propane tanker crash.
What is this case all about?
On Sept. 2, 2017, a Waimea woman was killed in a crash between an SUV and a propane tanker operated by Hawaii Gas. Now, the mother of that woman has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
But the lawsuit is not against Hawaii Gas – it is against the victim’s companion, the driver of the SUV.
According to police, the driver, who was 23 at the time of the crash, was driving a 2004 Honda Pilot on Highway 19 near Honomu Transfer Station Road. They say that he crossed the center line and collided head-on with the propane tanker.
The woman who was killed was a passenger in the front seat of the Honda. She died at the scene from head injuries. Neither the driver of the Pilot nor a 3-year-old girl in the backseat was injured in the crash. The propane truck overturned, but the driver was able to get out before leaking propane caught fire.
The lawsuit, in this case, seeks unspecified damages, attorneys’ fees and court costs, plus interest. The suit describes the Honda driver’s actions as “a reflection of extreme foolhardiness and/or a reflection of the callous disregard of callous indifference to the rights and safety of others…”
Police opened a negligent homicide investigation, but no charges have ever been filed in the case.
Crashes versus trucks can be devastating
We do not know how this case will turn out. What we do know is that a fully loaded tanker truck versus a passenger vehicle will almost never end well. Truck crashes are amongst the worst that we see and regularly lead to wrongful death lawsuits when negligence is involved.
Let our team get to work helping you today
If you have lost a loved one due to the careless or negligent actions of another person, you should seek legal assistance as soon as possible. At Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli and Pratt, P.A, we understand that this is a hard time for you and your family. Our compassionate and experienced team will get to work investigating what happened so we can secure the compensation you deserve. This can include coverage of:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Cost of pre-death medical care
- Loss of future income and benefits of the deceased
- Mental anguish damages
- Loss of consortium or companionship damages
- Punitive damages against those responsible
When you need a Hawaii wrongful death attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by calling at 808-736-5035.