Wrongful death lawsuit possible in Massachusetts auto accident

Accidents happen. It is an undeniable fact of life. Luckily, they can sometimes be just a minor inconvenience. Other times, however, they are more serious and have life-altering effects. A car wreck that happened about two years ago is in the latter category for a Massachusetts teenager who could potentially face a wrongful death lawsuit for his role in its occurrence.

The fatal accident happened in Nov. 2012. According to reports, the 18-year-old man failed to stop for a traffic light that had turned red. The man’s car then collided with another vehicle that was traveling through the intersection at the time.

A 24-year-old man riding in that car suffered serious harm in the resulting crash. He was taken to a Massachusetts hospital for treatment of his injuries. He later died there.

The man responsible for the accident was tried recently at a one-day hearing in a Massachusetts courtroom. He received a one-year sentence, which was then suspended. He will be on probation for the next four years, according to prosecutor’s reports. Part of the man’s sentence included mandatory community service for 500 hours. He also lost his driver’s license for the next 15 years.

The man’s attorney said the accident was simply that — an unfortunate misstep made by a young driver who meant no harm. For the man who died it was clearly much more than that. His family retains the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the man found responsible for causing his demise. It won’t bring back the person they lost, but it could help hold the man responsible accountable for his actions.

Source: boston.com, Sandwich teen convicted in 2012 fatal crash, No author, Feb. 26, 2014