According to reports, the 21-year-old woman was reportedly walking home from work in Fitchburg at approximately 6:30 p.m one evening in February. Her co-workers report that it was common for her to do so. As she walked, however, she was allegedly struck by a plow truck that was not plowing at the time.
She was initially transported by ambulance to a local hospital but was then taken by helicopter to another facility for further treatment. She died the next day from injuries suffered in the collision. While police say no charges have been filed at this time, the accident remains under investigation.
While a conviction on criminal charges stemming from the accident could help in a related wrongful death lawsuit, it is not necessary to prove a claim of negligence in a Massachusetts civil court. While the family of the deceased woman is coping with her death, the last thing they need to worry about is how they will pay her medical bills and funeral expenses. A successfully presented case could help ease this financial burden and allow the family to focus on their emotional recovery.
Source: telegram.com, "Fitchburg woman, 21, dies from injuries from plow truck", Paula J. Owen, Feb. 21, 2015
