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Texas fatal car accidents could spawn criminal charges

On Behalf of | Dec 15, 2015 | Wrongful Death |

Every motorist in Texas is obligated to operate a vehicle according to safety and traffic regulations. Cautious driving and adherence to traffic laws helps travelers avoid collisions and maintain roadway safety. Unfortunately, not all who take to the road comply with traffic regulations. In fact, fatal car accidents are frequently caused by reckless drivers.

A tragedy occurred on a recent Sunday in El Paso involving a single motor vehicle that carried two occupants. A 23-year-old man was driving the car at the time. He is now facing criminal charges for the death of the man who was his passenger.

Apparently, 911 dispatchers had received a call earlier that evening from a 25-year-old man. The man claimed that the driver of the car in which he was traveling would not allow him to exit the vehicle. He told authorities that the car was going at least 100 m.p.h. and the driver kept running red lights. Police searched the area for the reported vehicle but were not immediately able to locate it. Shortly thereafter, officers found the vehicle when they were called to the scene of a crash.

Both men were injured in the collision; sadly, the passenger was not able to survive the injuries he suffered. The driver allegedly admitted to police that he had been drinking alcohol prior to getting behind the wheel that night. Police have charged him with murder. In similar fatal car accidents in Texas, immediate family members may choose to file wrongful death claims on behalf of their deceased loved ones whose lives have been taken as the result of reckless driving. Such claims would be litigated in a civil court apart from any criminal charges with which a person deemed responsible may be charged.

Source: kfoxtv.com, “UPDATE: Driver faces murder charge following deadly Northeast crash”, Jamel E. Valencia and Jessica Gonzalez, Accessed on Dec. 15, 2015

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