Mississippi Man Gets 30 Years for Killings in 2021 DUI Car Accident, But What About the Victims’ Families?
When a drunk driver causes the death of a loved one in Mississippi, the legal system may impose harsh criminal penalties, but for the families left behind, questions about justice and recovery often remain unanswered. In Mississippi, a recent, high-profile case illustrates this harsh reality: a man was sentenced after causing a fatal Driving Under the Influence (DUI) crash in February 2021 on Highway 43 in Simpson County. The man was found to have been high on methamphetamine, and his decision to “speed on a wet roadway” resulted in the death of two teenagers and two other teens were seriously injured. In the criminal case against the man, he was handed down 30 years in prison (with an additional 20 years of supervised supervision). However, families of victims of fatal car accidents in Mississippi may still face emotional and financial burdens, and wonder what legal options they have under Mississippi civil laws.
How Criminal Laws and Civil Laws Work in Mississippi DUI Car Accidents to Hold Intoxicated Mississippi Drivers Accountable
Something that Mississippi families may not know is that the difference between criminal and civil law is significant in cases involving DUI deaths. Mississippi criminal laws address the driver’s wrongdoing, leading to potential prison sentences, fines, and probation as punishment for breaking the law. As demonstrated by the recent case in Simpson County, the driver’s sentence may help prevent future tragedies, but it does not directly compensate the families for the unimaginable loss of their loved ones. Mississippi civil personal injury laws, on the other hand, aim to do just that, and focus on the victims and their families. Under Mississippi civil personal injury laws, wrongful death claims and personal injury lawsuits allow families to seek compensation for funeral costs, lost income, emotional pain and suffering, and other damages. Importantly, these civil claims can be filed even though the criminal case is underway or concluded. However, there is a limited time to file a claim under Mississippi personal injury wrongful death laws, so it is important to speak with an experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyer as soon as possible about your case.
Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit Under Mississippi Personal Injury Laws
If your family has lost someone because of a drunk driver in Mississippi, it is important to know that you have legal options under Mississippi personal injury and wrongful death laws. A wrongful death lawsuit may be brought by certain close surviving family members of the victim of the accident under Miss. Code Ann. § 11-7-13. Timing is critical in these cases, as there are strict statutes of limitation for most wrongful death actions in Mississippi. Failure to act within that timeframe can result in losing your legal rights to compensation permanently. Because wrongful death claims involve complex and challenging issues, consulting with an experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyer early on helps protect your family’s future.
Finding Legal Help in Mississippi After a Tragic DUI Accident
If your family is dealing with the heartbreaking aftermath of a fatal DUI accident in Mississippi, it is critical that you know that you do not have to navigate this tough time alone. An experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyer can review the crash, assess liability, identify all responsible parties, guide you through filing the wrongful death action, and help secure maximum compensation due to you under Mississippi personal injury laws. If you lost a loved one to a DUI car accident in Mississippi, contact the experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC. Contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak with a lawyer about your case now.
Source:
vicksburgnews.com/mississippi-man-sentenced-to-30-years-after-killing-two-teenagers-in-a-dui-crash/
