When car accidents happen, people are often willing to give those who caused them the benefit of the doubt that such incidences are just that: accidents. The assumption typically is that there was no bad intention (even in cases where one drove recklessly), but rather just a series of events that resulted in an unintended outcome.
Yet that may not always be the case. There are those rare instances where drivers choose to turn their vehicle into a weapon, and given the destructive potential that vehicles possess, when this does occur, the results can be catastrophic.
Intentional actions and a deadly collision
One need to only look at the recent devastating crash in Eton to confirm this fact. WDEF.com reports that local authorities are on the lookout for an unknown driver who they believe intentionally ran another vehicle off the road.
Witness testimonies confirm that a Chevrolet Optra overtook a Ford Mustang traveling along Highway 411 and then preceded to ram into the other vehicle. The Optra reportedly collided with the Mustang several times before the latter vehicle lost control and left the road. The Optra then fled the scene. The occupants of the Mustang (a newlywed couple from Crandall) died in the collision.
Civil compensation in conjunction with a criminal trial
In cases such as this (where it appears a person may have intentionally caused a collision), many may think that accident victims or their families seeking compensation must wait for any criminal proceedings related to their crashes to play out. That, however, is not the case. Civil and criminal matters involving the same defendant can occur simultaneously.