An elderly couple recently lost their lives in a tragic Texas traffic accident. The man and woman who died in the car accident were 79 and 80 years old respectively. When fatal car accidents occur due to the negligence or recklessness of certain motorists, these motorists may be held liable for the accident-related deaths in civil court.
According to police, a 37-year-old man was driving at about 6 p.m. on a Tuesday. All of a sudden, he reportedly struck multiple cars at an intersection. One of the cars he struck belonged to the elderly couple.
Police reported that the woman’s injuries stemming from the crash were serious and that she was pronounced deceased at the accident scene. Meanwhile, her husband had also suffered injuries and was taken to the hospital but ended up passing away there. The man who had allegedly struck the couple’s car kept going following the accident, blew through a red light and struck many other automobiles. He now faces a charge of intoxication manslaughter (two counts).
In addition to facing a criminal charge in Texas, the man who police said struck the couple’s car may also face challenges in civil court, as the couple’s surviving loved ones may opt to file wrongful death claims against him. If the man ends up being convicted on his charge, proof of the conviction may be used to try to establish liability in a related civil court proceeding. A preponderance of the evidence is necessary to establish liability before the court in cases involving car accidents, at which point monetary damage claims will be adjudicated.
Source: cbslocal.com, “Multi-Car Accident Kills Elderly Couple In Euless“, June 7, 2017