After fatal car accident, man faces jail time

As many Maryland residents who have been in a car accident can attest, an accident can happen far too quickly. One moment, everything is right, but in just the next moment, everything in an individual’s life can change — sometimes irrevocably. The drunk driver who caused a car accident that lead to one woman’s death is now facing jail time. In these tragic situations, the survivors typically seek to file a wrongful death claim against the negligent party.

The accident occurred in July of last year in College Park. It occurred early in the morning and involved the drunk driver, a 34-year-old man from out of state, and a 21-year-old woman. According to prosecutors, the man struck the woman on Baltimore Avenue in Upper Marlboro and left the accident’s scene. The woman later died of her injuries.

The man had been on probation when the crash occurred. According to authorities, he had been drinking. In May, he pleaded guilty to a charge of motor vehicle manslaughter and was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison.

When a family or loved ones lose an individual close to them in Maryland, they typically wonder what amends, if any, can be made. Although it cannot bring the victim back, victims’ families typically file a wrongful death suit in tragedies such as these. As prosecutors secured a conviction on a charge related to this fatal car accident, that conviction might be used as evidence in the wrongful death claim. The conviction could be used to help establish negligence on the part of the driver, which must be proved before a court will consider awarding any damages to the decedent’s loved ones.

Source: wbaltv.com, “Va. man sentenced in fatal Md. hit-and-run crash“, Aug. 21, 2015