Newport Beach, CA- A U.S. Marine pleaded guilty in connection with a fatal drunk driving accident in Southern California. Two college students died in the wreck, and three others were injured, resulting in criminal charges for the serviceman.
Young Marine Pleads Guilty to Gross Vehicular Manslaughter for 2015 DUI Accident
A young Marine who was accused of causing a drunk driving crash in Mission Valley in 2015 pleaded guilty to two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated on January 23, 2018.
On May 16, 2015, Jason Riley King was driving on State Route 163 when he drove into oncoming traffic and struck a vehicle head-on, NBC reports.
Two of the occupants of the vehicle, both USCD Medical students, were killed in the crash and three people were injured.
King was initially charged with two counts of murder, but he was found “not guilty” on those two charges, according to NBC Los Angeles.
Prosecutors told NBC that they wanted to charge King with murder because as a Marine he received repeated training about the perils of drinking and driving, according to NBC. They said King had to be escorted out of the bar and several friends and bar employees tried to keep him from driving.
Does a Criminal Conviction Impact a Civil Claim?
A successful civil claim depends on the evidence presented in settlement negotiations or civil court. Drunk driving accident victims often ask if a criminal conviction can be used as evidence for a civil claim. Convictions can be used as evidence but only under limited circumstances. California Evidence Code Section 788 says a felony conviction can be introduced “for the purposes attacking the credibility of a witness.” But there is no guarantee a judge will allow the evidence to be admitted in court.
Misdemeanor convictions are not admissible evidence in civil court.
An experienced drunk driving accident lawyer understands what evidence can be admitted to court and will counter any objections from the defense. Your attorney will do whatever they can to protect your interests and ensure your rights are respected. USAttorneys.com recommends you enlist an attorney to help with your civil claim so that you recover the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to for your injuries or loss of loved one.
Call a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Newport Beach
If you are hurt by a drunk driver and are facing exorbitant medical costs and other accident-related expenses get legal advice right away. If you live in Newport Beach, we recommend you contact the law office of Kalfayan Merjanian at 1-949-287-4931 and set up a time to talk about your case. You can learn more about their top-notch team of attorneys by visiting their website.
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