North Carolina woman kills couple in car accident

Earlier this week, 42-year-old woman was charged with two counts of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle in Kinston, North Carolina. The charges stem from an accident she caused earlier this month in Lenoir County.

The accident occurred around 7 p.m. after the woman ran a stop sign and collided with another vehicle. That vehicle then flipped over and landed in a nearby yard. Sadly, the couple inside the vehicle was killed.

A wrongful death lawsuit

In addition to facing criminal charges for causing the death of others, a negligent driver might also be subject to a wrongful death lawsuit, a type of civil lawsuit that can be brought by family members of the decedent.

Many wrongful death lawsuits are filed alongside or closely after criminal lawsuits, but ultimately require a lower standard of proof then criminal lawsuits. Therefore, a person can still be found liable for the wrongful death of someone if they are acquitted of a crime, or even if they were never charged in the first place.

The goal of a wrongful death lawsuit

The goal of a wrongful death lawsuit is to attempt to mitigate some of the pain of losing a loved one through financial compensation. And while no amount of money can bring back a loved one, it often helps. Family members will also be able to recover for a range of costs that might accompany the death of a loved one, including funeral expenses, lost income, and medical expenses related to the accident. An experienced attorney will be able to help grieving family members navigate the law after the death of a loved one.