Recently, a 19-year-old Florida man was killed while attempting to prevent a friend from driving drunk. According to WTVJ-TV, the Coconut Creek teen initially tried to block his friend from getting in the car. However, when that failed, the young man grabbed onto the vehicle itself in a bid to convince his friend not to drive drunk.
Tragically, the teenager’s friend did not listen to him, taking off while the young man was still clinging to the rear spoiler of the vehicle. Before the teen could get loose from the spoiler, the vehicle ran through some bushes and slammed into a palm tree, which sent him flying to his death.
After crashing into the tree, the car continued on, crossing a driveway and hitting three vehicles before coming to a stop.
As of this report, the Coconut Creek police were still investigating the incident. If the police are able to prove the driver was intoxicated while behind the wheel, he could face criminal charges. In addition to the authorities seeking a criminal conviction, family members of a loved one killed by negligence can seek justice through civil litigation.
How Do Criminal and Civil Cases Differ?
As injury lawyer Julie Braman Kane explains in the video below, the state or federal government prosecutes criminal cases and the result, if a conviction is reached, is often that the defendant goes to prison. However, in the case of civil lawsuits, if the negligent party is convicted, the result is often that the victim receives compensation for medical bills, funeral costs, living expenses as well as pain and suffering.
Colson Hicks Eidson – Injury Attorneys
