There are many times when people might suspect that they are in danger while driving. These circumstances tend to be during bad weather or heavy traffic. Most people probably think they are relatively safe as they travel home from church on a Sunday morning. Unfortunately, in what could ultimately lead to a wrongful death case, a North Carolina couple lost their lives while doing just that.
The accident happened in March 2013. A car containing an 83-year-old man and his 79-year-old wife was struck by a vehicle driving the wrong way on a North Carolina roadway. That car was operated by a 35-year-old man.
Reports indicate that the man who struck the couple had been drinking prior to the accident. Police claim that the man’s blood alcohol level was approximately three times the legal limit at the time of the collision. He recently pleaded guilty to several charges related to the accident, including second-degree murder and driving while impaired.
The shock that the family of the deceased couple must have felt after hearing the news of the deaths was likely intense. Unfortunately, those who have lost loved ones in such traumatic circumstances must deal with the financial consequences while also coping with their grief. In order to help cope with burdens such as financial expenses, the family has the option of filing a wrongful death case in a North Carolina civil court. If they can prove that the driver’s negligence caused the deaths of their loved ones — a claim seemingly supported by his recent guilty plea — the court may see fit to award them a judgment for monetary damages to help offset the financial repercussions of the accident.
Source: wncn.com, “Raleigh man sentenced for wreck that killed 2“, , May 6, 2014