‘Negligence’ does double duty in law: the civil version compensates victims; the criminal version punishes conduct society won’t tolerate — vehicular homicide, endangerment, neglect crimes. After serious crashes and deaths, both systems often engage, and families need the map of how they interact.
- Different standards, different jobs: criminal negligence requires grosser deviation proven beyond reasonable doubt, seeking punishment; civil negligence requires a preponderance, seeking compensation. Same crash, two questions.
- The interaction: convictions powerfully support civil claims; acquittals don’t end them (the standards differ — the lesson of every famous parallel case). Civil claims proceed without waiting, and restitution rarely approaches full damages.
- Where victims meet it: DUI prosecutions alongside victim claims, vehicular-homicide cases alongside wrongful death, and neglect prosecutions alongside elder-abuse civil claims.
Scope note, plainly: our firm represents victims in civil claims — we don’t defend criminal cases. If you’re a victim navigating a parallel prosecution, we coordinate with prosecutors while your civil claim runs on its own track through the Pennsylvania courts.
Frequently Asked Questions
The driver who hit us is being prosecuted. Should we wait for that to finish?
No — the civil claim runs independently, evidence doesn’t wait, and deadlines don’t pause for prosecutions. The tracks coordinate; they don’t queue.
The prosecutor declined charges. Does that kill our civil case?
No — declination reflects the criminal standard and prosecutorial judgment, not civil merit. Preponderance is a different, lower bar.
What does hiring you cost?
No attorney’s fee unless we recover; percentage and cost handling are in the written fee agreement. Consultations are free.
Questions about your situation? Call (215) 464-4600 or contact us online — free, confidential consultations, contingency-fee representation.