Losing someone in a fatal car accident can be traumatizing-after all no one expects that the person they said goodbye to a couple hours ago will never be seen again. Family members suddenly find themselves planning a funeral instead of a family vacation and the emotional ramifications, not to mention financial ones, can be immense. Making sense of the loss can be very difficult, only adding to the frustration.

These thoughts might be going through the heads of the family members of a 53-year-old man who recently died in a pedestrian accident in Texas. According to authorities, the accident victim was walking along the shoulder of the roadway when a vehicle being driven by a 17-year-old struck him. The teenager was driving a pickup northbound when he went across the white line, veering into the road’s shoulder.

Charges have yet to be filed in the case, which is still under investigation. It is important to keep in mind that a criminal case is independent of a civil case. Family members of a deceased accident victim can pursue a wrongful death claim independently of criminal charges.

Though pursuing a legal case may be the last thing on one’s mind after losing someone suddenly, the truth is that the financial burden associated with an accident is heavy. Funeral expenses are only the beginning-wages are lost and this can be especially devastating if the deceased was the primary breadwinner. Additionally, pain and suffering can also be compensated in a civil lawsuit. Moving on with one’s life may not be possible without alleviating one’s financial burden and an experienced attorney can discuss options of how to do so.