The adage that with age comes experience and the ability to make better decisions is seldom wrong. However a wrongful death that was a result of an accident 11 years ago, and alleged rash decisions in the past few months may be about to change one Texas man’s life. The man has been charged with a DWI while still on probation from the crash that he is alleged to have caused several years ago.
In 2002, the Texas man, who was 19 at the time, caused an accident that claimed the life of a pregnant woman and her child in utero. Occupants of a third car caught up in the collision also suffered traumatic and long term injuries. The charges against the driver included driving while intoxicated. The crash resulted when he ran a red signal light and smashed into the pregnant woman’s car. The prosecution and defense worked out a deal that would postpone prison time for a ten year probation on the condition that he not break any of the requirements of the probation.
In May, the man was arrested on alleged drunk driving charges again. Officers have reportedly stated that the level of alcohol in his blood was close to double the legal limit. Because this alleged charge may mean he has broken the probation agreement, a prison term of up to 20 years may be in his future.
This man may have to go to jail to help pay for his alleged crime. However prison time will not bring back the victims that were killed in the crash, nor will it compensate the families whose loved ones have been so severely injured. Texas has laws that allow victims and their families to seek monetary compensation for the devastation that follows a tragic death. A wrongful death claim can possibly be filed that may help provide relief to a grieving family.
Source: dallasnews.com, “New DWI case could mean prison for man who caused fatal crash in ’02,” July 1, 2013
