One of the worst things anyone can ever go through is contributing to the death of another human being. Most of the people in this world hold life in high regard. They value their life and that of others. Sometimes there are accidents, though, and these can result in the loss of life.
A common accident that leads to the loss of human life is that of a fatal car accident. Being in an accident is traumatic for anyone, but even more so if someone dies as a result of it. What can you expect if you caused a fatal accident?
What to Expect If You Have Caused a Fatal Accident
- Arrested on Criminal Charges. There are situations in which an accident is simply an accident. There are other times, though, when a person’s unsafe driving habits contribute to the fatal car accident. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding or racing, or failing to abide by other traffic laws can contribute to such an accident. When they do, the unsafe driver can be arrested on criminal charges.
- Civil Lawsuit. Even if you aren’t arrested, the family of the deceased can take you to court. They may seek compensation for the accident from your personal assets. In most cases, to win their case, the family members have to show that the police have determined that you were the case of the accident.
- Higher Insurance Rates. In some cases, but not all, insurance rates will go up after a fatal accident. This is because your insurance will have to pay for the damages, even settling with family members of the deceased who have sued you. Insurance rates don’t always go up, though. According to InsuranceQuotes.com, some policies allow for first-accident forgiveness. Most insurance providers recommend that if you are accused of causing a fatal car accident that you seek the professional assistance of an attorney to help you with your case.
What Caused the Fatal Car Accident? 3 Common Contributing Factors
In order to avoid a fatal accident, the best thing you can do is avoid unsafe driving. That’s why we’re going to take a moment to discus three common contributing factors to fatal accidents.
- Distracted driving—cell phone use, eating, talking, putting on makeup or even listening to the radio while driving can be distracting enough to cause a fatal accident.
- Fatigued driving—drivers who drive while fatigued are just as unsafe as someone who is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Reckless driving—knowingly driving dangerously shows a blatant disregard for traffic laws and is one of the highest ranking causes of fatal car accidents.
Don’t Go Through This Alone—Contact a Lawyer with Experience in Fatal Accident Law
Whatever the reason, if you’ve caused a fatal car accident, you need professional legal assistance. Call the office of John C. Fitzpatrick to help you out during this difficult time. We can work with you whether you’re being sued by the decedent’s family or have been arrested under criminal charges.