Truck accident claims the life of a young boy in New York

The thought of losing a child is unbearable for any parent. What many would consider their greatest fear has tragically become reality for one New York family. A recent truck accident has claimed the life of a young boy and left two people grieving the loss of their only son. Criminal charges have been filed, but the family may also have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit.

An 8-year-old boy was struck and killed by an unlicensed tractor-trailer driver while walking to school with his sister. The driver claims he did not see the boy step into the crosswalk as he was completing a left turn onto Northern Blvd. The area has been the scene of many pedestrian fatalities. As a result, the road has been named one of the most dangerous in the Borough of Queens by the Department of Transportation.

The driver was arrested and now faces multiple charges. According to reports, he has worked in his profession for 13 years without any previous truck accidents. Information as to how an unlicensed driver was allowed to continue operating his vehicle has not been released.

If driver negligence proves to be a factor in the truck accident, the victim’s family may elect to file a claim in civil court. New York residents reserve the right to seek compensation for financial losses as well as other damages resulting from an accident. While no amount of money will ever compensate for the pain suffered at the loss of a child, a successful wrongful death claim may provide the family with a sense of closure as they attempt to recover financially and emotionally from their tragic loss.

Source: nydailynews.com, Queens family mourns 8-year-old killed by unlicensed truck driver in Woodside, Alfred Ng, Barry Paddock, and Corinne Lestch, Dec. 20, 2013