A woman in Texas was recently sentenced to both jail time and probation after being convicted of taking the lives of two girls in 2018 due to driving while distracted. At the time of the accident, the woman was using a mobile phone fast-food application while behind the wheel. Her sentences include 360 days behind county jail bars and a probation period lasting 10 years.
Events leading up to the crash
The fatal accident took place when the woman was driving along Interstate 20 and suddenly rear-ended a minivan carrying two girls, 14 and 11. A search of the woman’s phone following the crash revealed that she was on Chick-fil-A’s phone application when the collision occurred. The woman ended up pleading guilty to manslaughter (two counts) earlier in 2021.
Along with facing jail time and probation, the woman must pay a fine of $500 to cover the court’s costs. In addition, she is expected to pay restitution to her crash victims’ family members. The woman is also required to complete 800 community service hours.
Legal recourse following a fatal collision
Sometimes, fatal car accidents in Texas occur due to a driver’s negligence. In this situation, the allegedly at-fault driver may face not only criminal charges but also civil suits. That’s because the surviving loved ones of the individuals who died in the accident have the right to file wrongful death claims against the reportedly negligent party, seeking damages. If the plaintiffs are successful in civil court, they may receive monetary damages to cover the deceased parties’ funeral costs and other losses stemming from the crash.
