Fatal car accidents may lead to criminal, civil court challenges

A man recently lost his life in a tragic motor vehicle collision in Virginia. Meanwhile, the person who reportedly caused his crash suffered injuries in the collision and will likely face charges in the fatal accident. Sometimes, these types of car accidents are the result of negligence, which is also grounds for civil litigation.

The recent accident occurred on a Monday at 11 p.m. along Route 605. According to authorities, a 20-year-old man was driving a car on the highway. However, he ended up losing control of it, which caused the car to leave the roadway and crash into a tree.

The driver suffered minor injuries in the crash and was taken to a medical hospital for treatment. However, his 19-year-old passenger passed away at the auto crash scene. Both men were wearing seatbelts. Police said that charges were pending against the driver due to his role in the fatal wreck.

In addition to potentially facing criminal charges, the driver involved in the recent Virginia accident may face trouble in civil court. This is because the surviving loved ones of the passenger who died in the crash may choose to file a wrongful death claim against the driver seeking monetary damages. If the driver is charged pleads guilty or nolo contendere, it may be presented in civil court in an effort to establish liability for the accident-related death under Virginia Code Section 8.01-418. This is the reason why some defendants end up disputing what seems to be a clear-cut case.  The charges typically can not be mentioned in a civil case if the defendant pled not-guilty in the criminal case, even if they were found guilty.