A person I know died from a long ago car accident

[jaxonbrown]

What is the name of your state? TN

cliffs notes:
- an aquaintance of mine got seriously hurt in a car accident
- six months later, she dies in surgery
- can manslaughter charges be brought against the driver who hit her and pushed her car into traffic?

Long version:
This isn't a firsthand account. This is what I've heard from friends who knew her better:

A girl I know was in a car accident about six months ago. She was first in line at a stoplight and a driver ran into her from behind and pushed her into traffic, causing her to get t-boned by an oncoming car on the driver's side and *seriously* injured.

She went in and out of surgery for a while. She got so injured she had to have one of those portholes in her neck installed. About four weeks ago, she went to the hospital for a check up and they found excessive fluid around her heart. She went into surgery again and they removed the fluid, causing extra blood to be pumped to her lungs. Her lungs weren't ready to handle the extra load and caused a stroke (im not sure of all the details).

The quesiton is: since her death is a result of that car accident, even though it's six months later, shouldn't manslaughter charges be brought against the driver of the car that pushed her into oncoming traffic?

 

[Pfaffing85690]

There is no one here that can tell you yes or no on your question. Simply, we don't have the information that is needed to make a decision. And since you will only ever have third-hand knowledge, the ONLY advice that can be given is for the friend's family to consult an attorney who can review the entire case.

 

[JETX]

"shouldn't manslaughter charges be brought against the driver of the car that pushed her into oncoming traffic?"
*** Very likely, no. The problem is in proving that the death was a DIRECT cause of the accident itself. Your own post says that she had been treated for her injuries and released..... and that the subsequent death was after she returned for a checkup.
A moderately competent defense could be made that the death was a result of medical issues and not SPECIFICALLY due to the accident.