Speeding is believed to be a contributing factor in a recent car accident that caused the death of a child. The 9-year-old died after the vehicle in which he was a passenger was struck by another vehicle in North Carolina. That driver is now facing criminal charges in the car accident case and has been jailed.
The child was in the vehicle with his grandmother when their car was hit. The other driver was reportedly traveling 15 miles over the designated speed limit when the crash occurred. There is no word on whether any other contributing factors were involved in the crash.
The boy passed away, and the grandmother was transported to a local hospital. She suffered serious injuries, although the specific nature and extent of them was not initially reported. The driver is now facing felony charges of involuntary manslaughter for his role in the accident, which is a felony under North Carolina law.
Although he is facing North Carolina criminal charges for the car accident, it is no guarantee he will be convicted. Surviving family members retain the right to turn to the civil courts to file a lawsuit. A wrongful death claim is appropriate when one party’s negligence is responsible for the death of another. A successful wrongful death case could help the family feel like the man is being held fully responsible for his actions. It could also lead to a monetary award for the family, which may help them with funeral expenses and other damages associated with the tragic loss of a beloved family member taken away too soon.
Source: NewsObserver.com, “Driver charged in crash that killed NC boy,” Jan. 4, 2013