When can officials order an autopsy in a fatal Montgomery County crash?
A:
Montgomery County accident lawyers respond: After a fatal road accident, the body of the victim belongs to the next of kin. But sometimes the state has an interest in determining the cause of the crash that overrides the family's interest in claiming the victim's remains. Where officials investigating the accident can't find an obvious cause of the crash or an obvious cause of death, they could order an autopsy to help them look for causes.
For instance, a Montgomery County pickup truck-big rig wreck saw the pickup suddenly veer across several lanes of road to crash head-on into an 18-wheeler. Investigators at the scene couldn't determine why this happened. So the Justice of the Peace that pronounced the pickup's driver dead at the accident scene also ordered his autopsy. The autopsy could look for things like evidence of natural disease, injury, or a medical conditions that contributed to the crash. Autopsies often result for drivers killed in single car accidents and for accidents in which natural disease could provide a contributing factor to the accident.
Victims' deaths receive classification in 1 of 5 categories.
- Natural
- Accident
- Suicide
- Homicide
- Undetermined
The medical examiner records the determination of cause of death on the medical certificate. As Montgomery County accident lawyers, we should mention that the autopsy and recorded cause of death could help the victim's family in civil litigation following the accident.
Call us at 877-307-9500 to speak with a Board Certified Houston Personal Injury Attorney about YOUR case today!