Ali Erhaima, 32, was driving a 2007 Chrysler 300 in the westbound lane of Interstate 88 when a wrong-way driver crashed into him head-on. The driver, of a 2012 Toyota Camry, was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of the expressway.

Erhaima was a rideshare driver who was taking a passenger home to Naperville from the airport, according to a police statement. All three men were pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities identified the Toyota driver as 30-year-old Domenic Andreoni, a Marine from Elgin. Illinois State Police could not explain why he was driving in the wrong direction of the I-88.

Court records showed Andreoni had a number of previous driving-related charges. He was fined $175 and assigned court supervision for failing to reduce speed in March 2007. In addition, he was found not guilty of charges of speeding and DUI in August the same year.

Police said initial investigations did not reveal any indications that alcohol or drugs were involved. According to a police sergeant, a witness saw the Toyota driver originally driving in the correct direction of the interstate. He started driving in the wrong direction after striking a wall, which caused the vehicle to spin into the opposite side of the expressway.

The pedestrian suffered blunt force trauma to her head and was pronounced dead at the hospital; the cyclist suffered a fractured pelvis, broken leg, and other injuries. The driver of the Mini Cooper was transported to an area hospital; the Camry driver was treated at the scene and released.

The fact that the guilty driver has been charged does little to pay the bills for the victims. The deceased’s family members will probably in time file a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent driver. One immediate problem they are facing is how to pay for funeral and burial expenses; the family is asking the public for financial support to defray the cost of her funeral and burial.

Wrongful death lawsuits can take up to several years to finally reach settlement. Meanwhile, plaintiffs still have to pay bills and meet their financial obligations. Once a claim is filed, the family would be eligible for auto accident litigation funding, a cash advance that can help defray expenses during a pending claim rather than risking their credit with mounting, unpaid bills.

Litigation Funding Corporation works fast to approve cases for funding — often within 24 hours –because there is no need for a credit check or employment verification. There are absolutely no restrictions on how the money is spent, and the money is only repaid once the case has concluded, either by settlement or otherwise. If our client loses the case, we completely waive repayment.

If you are the victim of an auto accident, have filed a lawsuit and need financial relief, complete our online contact form or call our office at 1.866.LIT.FUND to see if your case qualifies for litigation funding.

The man was also charged with improper lane change while driving the RV, which was believed to be responsible for triggering the multiple-vehicle chain reaction. Marietta Police said the current warrant has a no-bond and a nationwide extradition clause added. Police stated that they had encouraged the driver to turn himself in within 24-48 hours when they spoke with him, but that they did not know his exact location.

According to prior reports, the accident was caused when the RV, which was traveling southbound on I-75 near Delk Road, reportedly slammed into a Toyota Camry, which then collided with a Toyota Prius. The Prius then hit a median wall and flipped, partially ejecting its passenger, a 40 year old man who was not wearing a seatbelt. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

What stands out regarding the criminal charges in this case is that the charges against the driver would have been less stringent had he not fled the scene. As previously discussed, the accidental killing of another person in a car accident is typically construed as second degree vehicular homicide, and is a misdemeanor offense,  punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to $1,000.00, or both. Therefore, the driver’s act of leaving the scene bumped up his criminal charges from misdemeanor to felony, and could potentially have tripled the jail time he may be sentenced with, as this charge carries a potential prison sentence of 3-15 years.

The reason behind the heightened charges is indicative of the public policy concerns with having to track down the responsible person, and potential added difficulty of discerning the circumstances surrounding the accident, etc.

However, the potential legal fallout of this case, and other accidents ending in fatalities, is not necessarily limited to the criminal charges. The goal of criminal cases is to punish an individual for their wrongdoing. Our justice system supplies the option of pursing civil lawsuits in order to give some sort of compensation to the victim or their family for the harm caused, in an attempt to compensate them for the injury or loss.

If you have been injured, or a loved one has been killed, in a car accident due to another individual’s negligent driving, you should consult with an experienced Atlanta car accident attorney as soon as possible. Stephen M. Ozcomert is a knowledgeable personal injury attorney with over 20 years of experience. Attorney Ozcomert understands the evidentiary intricacies involved in complex accidents which are caused as a result of the negligent or reckless driving of others in Atlanta and throughout Georgia. Contact us today in order to schedule your free initial consultation. You can reach us by calling (404)-370-1000 or through our website.

More Blog Posts:

Fatal Tractor Trailer Collision on I-85 over the Weekend, Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published October 31, 2013

Sleepy Driver Causes Multi Vehicle Collision, Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published October 21, 2013