Accident or Crime? New Hampshire Accident Case Raises Difficult Questions

A trial in New Hampshire is raising complex questions about the difference between an outright crime and a traffic accident. The defense counsel claims that a fatal crash in Manchester was merely a tragic accident, while the prosecution claims that it was criminal homicide. What if a crash like this harmed you or someone you loved? How do you determine whether it was really an “accident?”

Woman on Trial for Negligent Homicide After Fatal Crash in Manchester 

A homicide trial in Manchester is generating plenty of media attention, and it revolves around a fatal crash that occurred in March of 2023. A woman is accused of killing her fiancé after driving in an allegedly reckless, negligent manner before crashing at high speed. Aside from negligent homicide, she also faces one count of reckless manslaughter and one count of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon.

The woman’s public defender argues that the crash was purely accidental. On the other hand, prosecutors point out that the woman had reportedly become “enraged” after her fiancé accused her of being unfaithful. While this argument was occurring inside the car, the woman allegedly increased her speed, committed various traffic violations, and caused a head-on collision. This severely injured the woman and killed her fiancé.

The collision occurred on an exit ramp on I-293, where a 25 mph speed limit is in place. At the time of the crash, the woman’s Acura was traveling at almost 70 miles per hour. Her defense team argues that “something went wrong” with her car, and that she could not navigate a turn after entering an intersection. Police did not inspect the vehicle after the collision for unknown reasons. The woman’s injuries were also so severe that police could not interview her for eight days after the crash. She also claimed she could not remember the details of the accident.

This has led to an interesting defense strategy that seems to hinge on the mechanical issues of the defendant’s car. The judge in this case has allowed the defense to use maintenance records as evidence, and they may also bring up investigations by the NHTSA into the safety and mechanical issues of all 2012 Acuras.

Whatever the case may be, it is worth noting that the burden of proof for civil cases is not the same as criminal cases. The requirements for a negligent homicide conviction are also very different compared to an injured plaintiff seeking to establish a motorist’s negligence. As long as you can prove that the other driver was negligent (did not act with due care), you may be able to hold them accountable for causing your injuries.

Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Determine Whether a Crash Was Accidental? 

We often use the word “accident” far too liberally in the context of traffic collisions in Manchester. Regardless of what defendants say, there is nothing all that “accidental” about causing someone else’s death through negligence, recklessness, and other offenses. Drunk drivers make a clear decision to consume alcohol while knowing the risks. Speeders consciously press down on their gas pedals moments before collisions. If you want to hold a negligent driver accountable, consider speaking with the Manchester car accident lawyers at the Law Office of Manning Zimmerman & Oliveira, PLLC.

Sources: 

.unionleader.com/news/courts/reckless-driving-or-tragic-accident-weighed-in-fatal-crash-case/article_0fe23f44-ff71-11ef-951b-c3c0fe364a6e.html

wmur.com/article/trial-derry-woman-fiance-manchester-crash-031225/64165953