It is the responsibility of motor vehicle operators to act according to the highest level of safety standards and applicable traffic laws when navigating the nation’s roadways. Negligent acts such as speeding or failing to obey traffic signals can lead to accidents that may have been otherwise preventable were it not for careless driving. A North Carolina community was recently struck by tragedy when a fatal car accident took the life of a 16-year-old athlete.
It was an early Sunday morning when the crash occurred. A 17-year-old girl and two other passengers were traveling at an apparently high rate of speed. The young driver allegedly lost control of her car, which went off the road. Authorities say that as she attempted to re-enter traffic, she veered across the opposite lanes. Her vehicle came to a crashing halt after hitting a tree.
The driver and one other person survived the incident. Sadly, however, a 16-year-old high school baseball player, who was in the back seat, died as a result of his injuries. The teenage girl was charged with involuntary manslaughter and is being held in jail on a $125,000 bond. Students and community members expressed their shock and sorrow, some saying that the tragedy reminds them to be more careful when they drive.
Aside from the fact that a fatal car accident can result in criminal charges being filed, a person who survives his or her injuries can also choose to file a legal claim in a civil court in order to seek compensation for damages. When a victim of minor age has succumbed to injury in a North Carolina collision, a parent or legal guardian may act on behalf of the deceased loved one in court. In a successfully litigated case, the party found responsible can be ordered to pay restitution that can be used to help offset some of the costs a victim’s family might have incurred because of the accident.
Source: wsoctv.com, “Myers Park HS senior charged in crash that killed teen“, Liz Foster, Oct. 25, 2015
