On behalf of Weisman, Kennedy & Berris Co., L.P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, March 22, 2013.

Careless driving can cause serious injuries or even death for the driver as well as everyone else on the road. People who have lost a family member in a car accident understand the emotional hardship of this sudden loss. However, a victim’s family can hold a driver accountable for his or her carelessness.

A Canton woman who caused the death of a 52-year-old home health aide will serve a 90-day jail sentence for vehicular manslaughter. She was found not guilty of vehicular homicide, likely because she insisted that the crash was an accident. The woman has also been charged with other misdemeanors unrelated to the accident.

At the time of the accident, the 29-year-old single mother was driving without insurance, which caused the victim’s husband to resort to litigation in order to recover his losses. Although she reportedly was obeying the speed limit on her way home from a shopping trip, her vehicle crossed the center lane on state Route 43 by more than 8 feet. The woman’s SUV crashed into the other driver’s car as it was coming from the opposite direction on the two-lane road. During the court hearing, the victim’s family members asked for the maximum sentence.

Fatal car accidents are difficult for the family members of victims, who may be entitled to compensation through a wrongful death claim. This compensation can help the family cover the costs of emergency medical care or funeral expenses. People who have lost a loved one in a fatal car accident may want to seek the help of an attorney.

Source: CantonRep.com, “Driver gets 90 days in jail for fatal Route 43 crash,” Dave Sereno, March 12, 2013