Texas drivers face all kinds of dangerous conditions when on the road. Some of these situations can be avoided if drivers abide by the appropriate standard of care when operating a vehicle. One former NBA star may be facing charges for his involvement in a fatal car accident. Mookie Baylock, former guard for the Atlanta Hawks, lost control of his vehicle, crossed over the median and crashed into a van.

Baylock is now facing a variety of charges including driving with a suspended license, driving on the wrong side of the road, crossing the median and improper lane change. If authorities find that Baylock had previously been charged with driving under a suspended license, they may upgrade his misdemeanor to a felony.

The van driver was hospitalized with a broken ankle. The driver’s wife, who was in the passenger’s seat, was killed. None of the couple’s five children were in the van at the time, but they now have to struggle through life without their mother. Whether or not Baylock is found guilty of the criminal charges listed, a civil court may determine that he was negligent in his driving. This typically means that the driver did not use reasonable care when operating his vehicle and harm was caused to another person due to this negligence.

The woman’s husband and children may also be able to file a wrongful death suit to acquire damages for their loss. They will need to prove that the driver was negligent and that the negligence was a direct cause of their loved one’s death.

Source: USA Today, “Mookie Blaylock faces at least 2 charges in fatal crash,” June 2, 2013