Losing a loved one in a fatal car accident can cause overwhelming grief and pain for surviving family members. Unfortunately, these car accidents that claim far too many lives occur quite frequently in Ohio and across the nation. Incidents like this typically leave family members not only seeking answers as to why the crash happened, but wanting justice for their loved ones as well.
Near the end of 2013, a 49-year-old male was killed when his truck was hit by a driver who failed to yield to traffic signs at an intersection. The victim died at the scene of the accident. The driver deemed responsible for the crash, a 21-year-old male, was later arrested and charged with vehicular homicide and driving under the influence.
Recently, the young man entered a plea deal for his involvement in the accident, moving his charges from a range of felony charges to a misdemeanor charge, which drastically reduces the applicable punishment. While some time in jail will be served for the event, the victim’s wife feels this punishment is unacceptable under the circumstances and will continue to fight for justice. She plans to potentially appeal this case to the Ohio Supreme Court.
Car accidents that result in fatality can bring on a whole new level of emotions. While grief and a sense of despair are very normal feelings for this type of situation, so is anger. Along with pursuing a criminal conviction, the victim’s wife also retains the right to file a wrongful death claim on behalf of her husband. If the driver deemed responsible for this collision is found liable for the victim’s death, an Ohio civil court could award the victim’s wife financial compensation for her loss, which will hopefully providing some small sense of closure.
Source: marionstar.com, “Guilty plea was not justice for widow of car crash victim”, Nick Betchel, May 15, 2014
