There are of course many reasons that car accidents occur some of which are within the control of the person behind the wheel. For instance, it is possible that many motor vehicle accidents could be prevented if an individual behind the wheel of a car was not intoxicated due to alcohol or other substances. While any accident can result in injuries, in the worst cases death ensues.

Pittsburgh area readers likely remember a fatal accident which occurred on Interstate 79 this past October. A SUV occupied by teenagers lost control and collided with a motorcycle. Sadly several individuals involved in the incident, including the teen driver and motorcyclist, died. A recent report indicates the likely reason behind the driver of the SUV losing control was due to huffing. This theory is due to the amount of difluroethane that was discovered in the body of the driver of the vehicle.

Huffing is a method under which participants get high by inhaling difluroethane.

A doctor from rehabilitation center indicates that this activity is dangerous regardless of where one is engaging in it. While the cause of the death of the teens was trauma sustained in the crash, the doctor said that huffing could lead to death in other settings as well. It could stop someone's heart or make it hard for the huffer to breathe.

Whatever the cause of the fatal accident, anytime negligent behavior of another is to blame for the death of an individual it is possible that a wrongful death lawsuit will be filed. While any money recovered certainly does not make up for the loss of a loved one, it nonetheless often makes it easier to get on with on with life.

Source: KDKA, "New Details On Fatal I-79 Crash Prompts Doctor To Warn Of 'Huffing' Dangers," David Highfield, Jan. 14, 2013

• Deaths resulting from the negligence of others are often difficult to come to terms with. Our firm provides counsel in these types of matters. If you would like to learn more about our practice, please visit our Pittsburgh fatal motor vehicle accident page.