In some cases, when someone you love dies as a result of another individual's negligent or reckless behavior, the outcome of a criminal trial isn't enough to give you the closure you need. If you find yourself in this situation, it may be possible to file a civil lawsuit against the responsible party and seek monetary damages, as one Massachusetts family has recently done.
According to the Daily Hampshire Gazette, the family of a 22-year-old male who was fatally struck by a drunk driver on August 28, 2010, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against 46-year-old Craig Barton.
The source reports that Frederick "Joey" Kareta III was "retrieving mail from his aunt's mailbox on Brainerd Street in South Hadley" when Barton lost control of his vehicle and hit him. Barton was "traveling about 80 mph in a 30 mph zone and struck Kareta hard enough to knock him out of his sneakers and send his body flying 109 feet," reveals the news outlet.
"[Barton's] conduct that day was atrocious," said John Ross, the accident attorney representing the plaintiffs. "[The victim] should never, ever, ever have been killed that day."
Barton pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide, DUI and other charges in September 2011 and was sentenced to five to seven years in prison.
Have you lost someone you love as a result of another party's recklessness or negligence? To determine if you have grounds to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Missouri, it is in your best interest to find skilled personal injury lawyers in Kansas City as soon as possible. These experienced professionals can assist you through the complex legal process and help you recover damages to which you may be entitled.