DUI Trial To Begin For Texas Man, Could Civil Litigation Follow?

On behalf of Lovett Law Firm posted in Car Accidents on Friday, February 28, 2014.

There is a day now, in Grand Prairie, that will not be soon forgotten due to the tragedy that occurred there on November 21, 2012. On that day, a 23-year-old Texas man made the choice to drive after having consumed alcohol. But it wasn’t just his life that he put in danger when he got behind the wheel of his Jeep Cherokee but the lives of his two other passengers as well. And when the vehicle suddenly veered off the road and rolled, the consequences of the driver’s actions were fully realized.

Police say that the vehicle in which the three men were riding rolled over multiple times before coming to a rest. But as if drinking and driving wasn’t shocking enough, evidence suggests that after the accident, the driver accepted a ride home from a passer-by. His 18-year-old friend was pronounced dead at the scene while his other passenger suffered severe injuries.

Although the Arlington driver was convicted recently by a Tarrant County jury on DUI manslaughter charges, this might be only half of the justice the accident victims and their families might seek.  As our readers here in El Paso are fully aware, the decision to drink and drive comes with a heavy price.  On top of the pain and suffering drunk-driving accidents cause, they can also lead to civil litigation as well.  Although reports do not indicate whether the victims and their families will seek this type of justice, it’s worth noting that this shouldn’t be ruled out as a possible next step after the criminal trial.

Source: The Star-Telegram, “Arlington man convicted of intoxication manslaughter faces life sentence,” Mitch Mitchell, Feb. 28, 2014