Driver Charged in Crash that Killed Fayetteville Postal Worker | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

A postal worker was killed Tuesday afternoon when another vehicle slammed into the back of his stopped truck. The fatal crash occurred on Morganton Road, Fayetteville at approximately 12:30 p.m., across from the Fayetteville Academy’s athletic fields.

According to law enforcement, the 58-year-old victim had parked his truck, with red flasher-lights blinking, in the right lane to deliver mail. He was sitting in his truck when a 2015 Dodge Journey SUV crashed into it, knocking the truck on its side. The impact was so hard that it crushed the front of the SUV. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

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Police identified the driver of the SUV as the 58-year-old wife of a Fayetteville councilman. She was transferred to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and was listed in fair condition. Police have charged her with misdemeanor death by vehicle. The road was closed for approximately two hours while police investigated the crash. They have not released any details as to reasons why the driver may have crashed her SUV into the truck.

Wrongful Death Claim

Under North Carolina law, when a person is killed in an accident caused by the negligent actions of another party, the victim’s survivors can file a wrongful death claim. The theory behind the law is that had the victim lived, they would have been able to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party. Because they did not survive their injuries, either family or a representative of the victim’s estate can file the claim in the victim’s place.

Our North Carolina wrongful death attorneys have successfully represented numerous clients who have lost loved ones because of the actions of another party. We understand that no amount of money will ever make up for the loss families must live with. But we also understand that many times, that loss leaves a family struggling financially, especially when the victim played a critical role in supporting the household, either financially or as a stay-at-home parent.

Suddenly, a family has expensive funeral and burial costs to deal with. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, there may be high medical expenses for emergency life-saving attempts, hospitalizations, surgeries, and other medical treatment the victim received trying to save their life.

Families also must struggle with the immediate and future loss of income and benefits the victim provided. In the case of a stay-at-home parent with young children, the surviving parent must now bear the burden of childcare expenses, so they can continue to work.

All of these expenses, as well as the emotional anguish and loss of companionship, are considered financial damages that may be awarded in a wrongful death lawsuit. If you have lost a loved one because of the actions of another party, contact a compassionate North Carolina wrongful death attorney to discuss what legal recourse you may have. Even if there have been criminal charges filed against the person for the death of your loved one, any civil actions are separate.