After a recent hit-and-run accident in Texas resulted in the death of a 33-year-old man, a woman from Dallas County came forward claiming that her son may have been responsible for the car accident. The victim was struck near U.S. Highway 175 and Masters Drive; his body was discovered on Oct. 27, about a day and a half after he had left his home in East Dallas to take a walk.
Following the incident, his wife turned to media to ask anyone with any information on the crash to help authorities discover who was responsible. On Oct. 31, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that they had a suspect and that his mother had turned him in.
If you have questions about wrongful death law, feel free to contact a Texas lawyer at 713-572-4900.
– Article By Richard Weaver
The suspect’s mother said that she identified him as the perpetrator after she watched television coverage of the hit-and-run and heard the description of the car thought to be involved. The suspect, a 29-year-old, was processed and charged with leaving the scene of an accident causing death. The damage to the suspect’s blue 2001 Honda Prelude was consistent with what would be expected in an auto-pedestrian accident, according to police. He is currently in custody in a Dallas County jail with bond set at $50,000.
The victim’s wife said that she was relieved that the man was caught but felt that he should be facing harsher charges. In addition to hoping for stronger charges to be filed against the suspect, she may want to consider filing a civil claim against the suspect for wrongful death. In wrongful death cases, the loved ones of victims killed because of another’s negligence can seek compensation for any final expenses the decedent may have had and recover other damages such as lost earning potential, particularly if the victim had dependents.
Source: NBC DFW, “Mother Turns Son in as Suspect in Fatal Hit-and-Run“, Greg Janda, October 31, 2013
