NOT ALL CAR ACCIDENTS ARE CRIMINAL

After a deadly accident, many people try to look for a criminal explanation. Was the driver intoxicated or distracted by a smart phone? Driving well over the posted speed limit? Unfortunately, there are not always such reasons for fatal car accidents. Sometimes, a negligent driver simply not focusing well enough is all there is to blame.

A Virginia woman died after she was involved in a recent tragic collision on U.S. 29. She was driving around 8:30 p.m., when an oncoming pickup truck veered across the median and into her lane. Although the driver of the pickup initially hit a road sign, the pickup then moved into the woman’s path and struck the car head-on.

According to emergency responders, the car driver died at the scene of the accident. It is not clear if the driver of the pickup suffered any injuries in the wreck, or required any medical treatment. Police are currently investigating the events that led to the collision, but so far do not believe that the driver was intoxicated or otherwise distracted.

Many Virginia families rely on evidence gathered by police when pursuing wrongful death claims with regard to their loved ones. When police determine that a driver was not criminally negligent, some people worry that they will not be able to bring a claim for monetary damages against the driver. However, criminal charges are not a prerequisite for these types of civil suits, and families can still take action to achieve compensation after these types of deadly car accidents.