When Michigan residents think of fatal car accidents, they probably imagine a multi-car pileup on the interstate or a state highway. Car accidents in parking lots and other private property usually only consist of fender benders and minor injuries. A woman was recently found guilty by a criminal court jury for causing the death of a man at a gas station.
Although not a deliberate act, the 75-year-old woman’s vehicle ran into a gas pump, causing it to explode. Fire engulfed a man who was using the pump to refuel his car. He did not survive, leaving behind a wife and four children.
After viewing the surveillance video of the incident during the one-day trial, the jury found the woman guilty of the charge against her, a moving violation causing death. She has not yet been sentenced, but the misdemeanor offense may cost her as much as one year of jail time and up to two years of probation. Her driver’s license will also be suspended.
The man’s family has the option to file a wrongful death lawsuit if they have not already done so. Money awarded from this type of suit will not bring their loved one back to them, but it may help them cover unexpected expenses for the man’s funeral and other financial losses. For those in Michigan who have had to deal with losses in the aftermath of fatal car accidents, an experienced attorney can answer questions and guide them through the claims and litigation process.
Source: wwmt.com, “Jury convicts Mattawan woman in deadly gas station explosion“, Nicky Zizaza