Tragedy unfolded in Lancaster County, South Carolina last Sunday when 34-year-old Jeremy Peay was hit by a car and dragged underneath it. Police were alerted of the crash around 10 a.m. and rushed to the accident site near Rutledge and Sumter. Two bystanders were trying to free Mr. Peay when police arrived, but they could not save him. Mr. Peay died still trapped under the car.
Lancaster County Deputy Coroner Tony Broome said Mr. Peay was standing near the road when a 48-year-old woman driving a Buick backed into him, reports islandpacket.com. He was dragged under the car 10-15 feet into a field, where he succumbed to his injuries.
As of April 15, 2014, WCNC.com reports that the woman driving the Buick has not been charged.
40,000 people die each year in traffic accidents. It is sad to imagine how many lives could be saved if drivers were even a little more cautious. Small, conscious actions, such as checking in the rear-view mirror before backing up, make all the difference. If this woman had just looked out the back window of her Buick there is a good chance Mr. Peay’s family would be spared this sorrow.
Money cannot heal the heart of someone grieving the loss of a loved one, but compensation for his or her death can ease the financial burden on the family so they can start to move forward. Attorneys who specialize in wrongful death lawsuits can help determine the total damages – from immediate funeral costs to lifetime costs such as lost wages, lost pension, childcare, and pain and suffering. It may be possible to reach a settlement without even filing a lawsuit. For more information, check out this article about the fundamentals of a wrongful death claim.
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