Even after a criminal case is finished, a convict may still be liable for civil proceedings. The punishment that the state hands a convicted criminal does not help you cover the medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, or other damages you may have received from the convict’s actions.
Take this example of a man who was involved in a fatal accident in 2010. The man left the bar with a $121 dollar tab and then got behind the wheel of a vehicle. He crashed into a moped around 1:45 AM and killed the 23-year-old that was riding it. He was originally charged with felony DUI, but pled guilty to reckless homicide. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison and 5 years probation.
The family of the victim may not feel that is enough. When the criminal justice system fails to satisfy, that’s where a civil suit can come into play. In actuality, the systems perform two different goals. The criminal system is designed to punish an offender, while a civil suit is about compensating for harm done. Normally, a criminal suit will happen before a civil one. The result in the criminal court can give powerful evidence for or against the plaintiff in the civil suit.
If you have been injured in Charleston, the law office of Howell & Christmas is here to help you. We fight for the injured every day. Contact our offices if you need legal representation in the state of South Carolina.
