Operating a vehicle is a very large responsibility for every single driver. Not only is it an obligation to drive safely in order to keep oneself from getting injured, but it is also to keep from injuring or killing others on the road. In Texas, negligent parties who are determined to be the cause of driving-related injuries or deaths can be sued for compensation after the accident.
One family is suing the driver of a vehicle that was found to be at fault for an accident that sadly killed four people and injured their teenage child. The driver’s parents are also named in the lawsuit. The driver was a 16-year-old boy who reportedly had a blood alcohol level of three times the legal Texas limit. The truck he was operating was occupied by himself and seven other teenagers, two of whom were in the bed of the truck.
A woman’s vehicle was stranded on the side of the road prior to the accident, and three people had stopped to assist her. A mother and daughter along with a youth minister were apparently on the side of the road trying to help the woman when the teenage driver ran into them. All four were killed in the accident.
The truck then flipped over before hitting a tree. The driver was sentenced to ten years of juvenile probation along with intensive therapy sessions after he allegedly took full responsibility for the accident in court. He was reportedly charged with intoxicated manslaughter for each of the victims who were killed, as well as two intoxicated assault charges.
No matter the age of the driver, being at fault for an accident in Texas can have serious legal and emotional impacts on everyone involved. The parents of underage negligent parties can also be sued for the actions of their children. Even though taking responsibility for one’s actions is the right thing to do, it can sadly still be very overwhelming and confusing for the families of those who were injured or killed in the accident.
Source: upi.com, Sixth lawsuit for Ethan Crouch family in Burleson, Texas, car crash, No author, Jan. 2, 2014
