Woman Charged After Fatal Car Accident in Montgomery

Local media reports that a woman is facing a murder charge after striking a pedestrian with her car on the southeast side of Montgomery, AL, on November 30, 2022.

How Did This Fatal Car Accident Happen?

Police say Keandia Rene O’Neal fatally hit a 57-year-old male pedestrian with her 2010 Ford Mustang at about 10 p.m. last November 30 near Park Towne Way and Troy Highway.

O’Neal admitted she had been driving recklessly. Officers took her into custody and placed her in the Montgomery County Detention Facility. The court set her bond at $1.5 million.

Fatal Car Crash Statistics in Montgomery, Alabama

The Alabama Department of Transportation reports that 10,475 traffic accidents resulted in 3,673 injuries and 31 fatalities in Montgomery County in one recent year.

Furthermore, per ADOT, a traffic accident happens every three minutes and 55 seconds. The state saw 853 fatal accidents that killed 932 people in another recent year, equivalent to one person dying in a car crash every 9 hours and 20 minutes.

Although most accidents in Alabama occur in urban areas, crashes in rural areas account for the most traffic deaths.

What to Do After a Fatal Car Wreck in Montgomery, AL

If your family member dies in a fatal car crash, the steps you take next are crucial to seeking justice on their behalf and claiming compensation for what you’ve lost.

The personal representative of a deceased adult’s estate is the only person allowed to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit in Alabama. This person is established in the deceased’s will or will be appointed by the courts if they did not have an estate plan in place. If you’re the personal representative, hire a personal injury lawyer. If someone else is the personal representative, urge them to do the same.

If you lost a child under 19 in a fatal car crash, you have six months from their death to bring a wrongful death claim. If six months pass and you don’t file, their personal representative can do so.

Your attorney can investigate the accident to determine who is at fault and who might be liable for the surviving family’s financial and emotional losses. The evidence they need will depend on the circumstances of your case but could include the following:

• Medical records establishing your loved one’s fatal injury from the collision
• Statements from eyewitnesses regarding the events leading up to the crash
• The police report with the investigating officer’s observations about what might have happened
• Traffic camera footage showing the moments before, during, and after the accident
• Photographs from the scene showing vehicle damage and road debris
• Final medical bills, funeral costs, and other documentation to prove the expenses incurred from the death

Contact the Montgomery Car Accident Lawyers if You’ve Been Injured

At Stokes Stemle, LLC, we know that no amount of money can change what happened or bring your loved one back. However, it can provide financial stability during a difficult time, as well as a crucial measure of justice.

If your family member died in a fatal car accident someone else caused, call or contact us online for a free consultation at one of our Alabama offices.