Delayed Justice for Family Results in Plea from Drunk Driver
Many families who have dealt with losing a loved one to a car accident never receive the justice they feel deserved after such a devastating loss. When a victim loses his or her life to a drunk driver, a drunk driving accident lawyer can be at work on the criminal case can at times be continued for months and even years. A car accident that occurred two and a half years ago just resulted in a guilty plea, giving some peace to a North Carolina family.
On April 3, 2014, an accident occurred that took the life of a 22-year-old woman in Guilford County. According to a recent article, events began when a 46-year-old man ordered food from a Subway at around 9 p.m. After eating, the man strangely crept up and attacked a cardboard cutout in the restaurant. A call was placed to 911, and officers later confronted the patron in his SUV.
The man left the parking lot, leading police on a chase that included local streets, where he was clocked at driving 80 mph in a 30 zone. The driver then entered I-40 going the wrong way, exited and then entered I-40 going the wrong way again. At that point, he crashed into the woman’s sedan. The man’s vehicle caught fire, and the woman perished at the scene of the crash.
Though a bittersweet day for the surviving family, their daughter’s killer was finally brought to justice in late July 2016. Though a person does not need to be convicted of criminal charges in order for surviving loved ones to pursue a wrongful death claim against an individual, a criminal conviction can only help a civil case. Family members in North Carolina who are considering seeking legal recourse against a drunk driver could benefit from seeking the advice of an experienced auto accident attorney. Attorneys who are seasoned in personal injury litigation will be in the best position to offer guidance as to the various legal options available in the event of a tragedy.