Q: What are some circumstances where a lawsuit arising from a car accident could become a criminal, rather than a civil,
trial?
A: A case does not change from civil to criminal. However an act or inaction done by a party could get charged as criminal. Car accident and the at fault driver gets charged with excessive speed, being under the influence of alcohol or drugs; possession of drugs in the vehicle found by an officer after the crash.
A: The most common is where there was intoxication and a death and the charge is negligent homicide. It would, however , be a completely separate case from the auto accident case and would be brought solely by the government.
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