Perhaps nothing seems more tragic than the loss of a child, regardless of how it happens. When that loss comes at the hands of someone else’s negligence, the hurt and anger is certainly intensified. Recently, a man in Connecticut was sentenced to prison for his role in a fatal accident that claimed the lives of two young children.
The accident occurred at the end of 2013. Two parents and their three children were in their vehicle, waiting at a red light, when an SUV rear-ended their car. The SUV driver apparently lived nearby and fled the scene of the accident on foot. In addition to the two deaths, the third child suffered critical injuries.
The SUV had apparently been borrowed by the driver. The owner of the SUV assisted police in the investigation, which led to the driver’s arrest. The individual responsible for the crash was charged and pleaded guilty to a host of charges. They included manslaughter, evading and DUI. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, five years probation and his driving privileges were revoked.
This family has suffered an enormous loss that, even with some justice served, will be difficult to move forward from. Along with the severe emotional loss, financial struggles due to medical and funeral expenses engendered by the fatal accident may be devastating. If they choose, the family has the right to pursue wrongful death claims for each child killed and a personal injury claim on behalf of the injured child. Claims may be appropriately made against the convicted driver as well as against the owner of the vehicle that he borrowed. Evidence of the criminal convictions may advance the cause of any related litigation in a Connecticut civil court.
Source: ctnow.com, “Driver Sentenced To 12 Years In Crash That Killed Two Children“, Hilda Munoz, April 22, 2014
