A person says goodbye to family members and heads to his or her planned destination, planning to return home several hours later. Instead of being greeted by the individual, though, the family members are greeted with news that their loved one has died in a car wreck. The family naturally may experience a combination of grief and shock, but they also might be angry if they discover that the person who reportedly caused the accident was driving in a reckless manner. Money cannot restore the life of a beloved victim who has died in a crash, but it certainly can help his or her family members to feel that some sense of justice has been served.
In a recent vehicle crash in Virginia, a 59-year-old man was killed when another man ran into his vehicle during a police pursuit. Police reportedly saw a 27-year-old man in a sport utility vehicle break several traffic laws and tried to stop him. However, the driver continued to drive and ended up striking the 59-year-old man’s van in an intersection, authorities reported.
Police say the van then went into an eastbound lane and ran into a third vehicle. The driver of the SUV and his two passengers suffered injuries in the crash and were taken to the hospital. The SUV driver faces several charges, including driving on a suspended license, first offense of driving under the influence, second-degree murder and felony eluding.
The man who police said attempted to flee authorities must face his multiple charges. However, he might also have to confront a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the loved ones of the van driver who died in the multi-vehicle collision. The injured passengers may also opt to file personal injury claims against him, seeking financial damages to cover medical costs and related monetary losses stemming from the accident. If the man is found guilty in criminal court in Virginia, proof of the conviction may help to establish his liability in civil court proceedings.
Source: The Virginian-Pilot, 1 killed in crash after Va. Beach pursuit; man charged, Stacy Parker, Jan. 7, 2014