Few things could be worse than learning that a loved one has suffered a sudden, untimely death in a car crash. Many Alabama families have experienced such grief. Those who discover that the motor vehicle accidents that killed their family members were caused by the negligence of other parties may seek full recovery for their losses by filing and litigating wrongful death claims in civil court.

In May 2015, a 19-year-old woman was traveling in Huntsville when her car was struck on the side by another vehicle. The other driver apparently ran a red light and was speeding just before smashing into the young woman’s car. Upon impact, the woman’s car careened into a third car.

The person behind the wheel of the third car suffered injuries in the crash. The woman in the first car that was hit did not survive the accident. On a recent Tuesday, the man deemed responsible for the crash, now age 20, pleaded guilty to several charges and now faces up to 50 years in prison, in addition to $75,000 in fines.

Beyond any criminal charges that might be filed after motor vehicle accidents in Alabama, immediate family members of deceased victims have every right to pursue justice on the behalves of their fallen family members. There is obviously no way to replace the loss of human lives; however, successful litigation often provides compensation that can help grieving families offset exorbitant costs associated with such incidents. Evidence from a criminal trial can be offered in court to help substantiate a civil claim.

Source: wbrc.com, “Tennessee man pleads in crash that killed Alabama teen“, Accessed on Nov. 19, 2016