WALTON COUNTY, Fla.— A tragic accident on April 21 in the Florida Panhandle claimed the lives of three young people and left one injured.
The accident occurred around 9:28 p.m. on Route 98 near Panama City Beach. A tractor-trailer attempting a U-turn in the paved median struck an SUV traveling westbound. The SUV crossed the median and eastbound lanes before stopping near the treeline.
Authorities identified Maisey O’Donnell, 18, as one of the individuals killed in the accident. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other SUV occupants, an 18-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman, also died. The fourth occupant, another 18-year-old woman, sustained critical injuries and was hospitalized.
The two men in the tractor-trailer were uninjured.
Concord-Carlisle High School officials in Massachusetts confirmed that all four SUV occupants were seniors at the school.
Maisey O’Donnell tragically killed in Walton County accident
CRASH INVESTIGATION
Candice Bond, an experienced tractor-trailer accident attorney, said that in such cases, it is imperative to have an independent investigation conducted promptly to protect the rights of a victim.
“Tractor-trailer crashes are often complex, and many factors can play a role in these types of accidents,” said Bond, who is a Managing Partner of Bond Legal.
“A skilled attorney can protect victims from trucking companies, which often send their own investigators to crash sites and possess a variety of resources they can utilize to defend a negligent truck driver.
“Your lawyer can advocate for you by hiring expert witnesses, conducting driver background checks, locating witnesses to the crash, and reviewing applicable insurance coverage, while carefully guiding a victim through the legal process.”
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
The family of Maisey O’Donnell may pursue compensation for damages such as costs associated with the death, loss of income and companionship, and other hardships.
“A death to a family member after an accident is both tragic and devastating to a surviving family. The grief, shock, and anger can be overwhelming,” said Bond.
She added, “Aside from the emotional suffering of those left behind, the death of someone close can have devastating financial implications. Loss of income and funeral costs alone can have tragic consequences when a family member is lost.”
Accident Injury News' national legal analyst Candice Bond is experienced in commercial trucking accidents. If you or a family member need help, she is available for a free consultation to guide you
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Accident Injury News can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-986-7738 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).
