Sentencing of Mississippi Man Responsible for Fatal 2022 Car Accident Highlights Difference between Restitution and Civil Compensation for Family Members

The sentencing of a Mississippi man for his involvement in a fatal car accident in 2022 highlights how criminal restitution and civil compensation for family members differ in Mississippi car accident cases. According to local news reports, 38-year-old Davenport, Mississippi man, Joshua Scott Peters was sentenced last week on Friday, January 5, for the killing of 71-year-old William Talbot, also of Davenport, in a car accident last year.

The underlying incident that caused Talbot’s death and gave rise to the criminal conviction against Peters occurred in April, 2022. Reports indicate that on April 21, 2022, local law enforcement officers responded to a report of a stolen 2016 Chevrolet Equinox from a campground. It turns out that Peters, Talbot, and several other people had been at the campground when Peters took methamphetamine and an altercation ensued between Peters and some of the other campers. As a result of the altercation, Peters hastily jumped into the Equinox, while Talbot was still inside the vehicle. Talbot is disabled, and tried to get out of the vehicle, but was unable to do so. Peters is said to have driven off “erratically, braking, swerving, and accelerating aggressively,” by eyewitnesses. The stolen Chevrolet Equinox was recovered the following morning in the Mississippi River, and Talbot was still inside, dead. According to reports, Peters drove the vehicle into the Mississippi River and then escaped as it submerged, but left Talbot to die.

Peters was ultimately convicted of homicide by a vehicle, operating a vehicle without owner’s consent and driving while barred. He was found not guilty of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. Peters was sentenced to 29 years in prison, and was ordered to pay the family $150,000 in restitution.

Restitution and Civil Compensation in Car Accident Cases

As the Talbot case demonstrates, a Mississippi criminal court may award restitution to certain surviving family members in a criminal case. However, certain surviving family members may also have options for justice in Mississippi civil courts. Under Mississippi wrongful death laws, certain family members may bring a claim for compensation when their loved one is killed due to the negligent or intentional conduct of another person or party.  In order to determine whether you may have a case for compensation under Mississippi wrongful death laws for the loss of your loved one, it is best to speak with an experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyer about your rights and options.

No one should ever have to experience the loss of a loved one due to another person or party’s negligent or intentional acts. If you have lost a loved one in Mississippi due to the actions of another person or party, it is important to learn about your rights. The experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC offer a free and confidential consultation to learn about your case and to see if they can help you get justice due for the loss of your loved one. Contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak to an experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyer about your case for free.

Source:

kwqc.com/2024/01/06/man-sentenced-prison-2022-fatal-crash-into-mississippi-river/