After a serious accident occurs, Indiana residents have every right to start thinking about how they can or should seek justice and compensation for their losses and injuries. Depending upon the nature of the cirumstances, the road to justice may include both civil and criminal paths. In the case of one crash that happened over a year ago in Clay County, a criminal path has led to some resolution recently.

The incident occured near the intersection of Indiana 59 north and County Road 1200 North when a man ran into another vehicle while that driver was in the midst of making a turn. The man is said to have been passing multiple other vehicles at the same time, including a local sheriff's deputy vehicle. The woman in the car that was hit was declared dead at the scene of the crash. She was 29 years old.

The man who caused the accident had a blood alcohol content of 0.152 percent. Originally he was charged with causing death while driving with a BAC over 0.15 percent but a plea bargain reduced that to causing death while driving with a BAC over 0.08 percent. The plea bargain also eliminated charges of reckless homicide and possession of pot and pot paraphenalia. He will serve three years on probation after first spending three years in prison. It is not known if a civil action has been initiated.

Indiana residents who lose friends and family members due to the careless choices of others may find it useful to have an attorney explain to them their options for compensation.

Source: Tribune Star, "3 years prison, 3 years probation for fatal DUI crash," May 31, 2017