Marital Spat Turns Tragic

March 8, 2012--Windsor, CA -–An argument between husband and wife turned into a serious traffic accident when the husband hit his wife with the vehicle in which the couple had been riding.

According to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, the Windsor police and emergency personnel responded to reports of a vehicular injury on Mallory Avenue about 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon. Upon arrival, officers found that the woman had fallen to the ground after exiting the vehicle and her husband had accelerated, striking her in the head with the car. It was not immediately apparent if the woman fell or was pushed to the ground.

The victim was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. Police are asking for cooperation from anyone who might have witnessed the incident. No arrests have been made at this time.

I want to offer my sincere wishes to the victim for a speedy recovery from her injuries.

Accident Statistics

The statistics on domestic abuse are particularly difficult to calculate as so many of these crimes go unreported or are reported as other types of crimes. However, it is estimated that 3 to 4 million cases of spousal abuse are reported each year, and that an incident of spousal abuse occurs every 15 seconds in the United States, according to the National Council on Child Abuse and Family Violence.

While the public tends to think of spousal abuse in terms of men abusing their wives, there are also reported incidents of women abusing husbands and same-sex partners abusing each other. Spousal and partner abuse is a phenomenon that knows no racial, religious, ethnic, or social boundaries; it affects all levels of society.

What Happened In This Car Accident

While the facts remain unclear during the ongoing investigation into this incident, it has been reported by witnesses that the couple was arguing prior to the injury. The logical inference is that this "accident" was in fact a deliberate act or at least an accident prompted by angry carelessness. While police gather evidence preparatory to filing charges, it is important to remember that even if the California car accident was not intended, carelessness or reckless behavior can bring criminal charges just as if the driver intended to hurt the victim.

No matter what the provocation, there is never room in the law for a person to vindictively hurt another person physically, if that is indeed what occurred in this case.

Liability Issues

Regardless of whether the husband
"meant" to hit his wife, he may face serious criminal and civil penalties. There are two different measures of proof in criminal and civil cases, so the fact that the husband might not be found guilty of a crime does not mean that he could not be sued in civil court and held liable for his wife's injuries.

A professional personal injury attorney should examine the facts of this case and determine the extent of liability of the husband in the injuries, pain and suffering of his wife.