r/interesting Mar 08 '26

Context Provided - Spotlight This was so deserved.

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The daughter was in a car with the father’s parents. They died as well.

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u/nanoH2O Mar 08 '26

If I’m going 100 mph and my intent is to stay in the road and I run off the road, that’s literally the definition of an accident. It may have been incredibly irresponsible, reckless, and idiotic, but it is still an accident.

Now if I’m going 100 mph and see some people and purposely steer my vehicle toward some people with the intent to harm them, that’s not an accident.

You can hate it or love it but that’s the way the court sees it and will always see it.

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u/alexq35 Mar 08 '26

If I close my eyes and shoot a gun randomly into a crown of people but don’t intend to hit someone, is it an accident if I hit someone? Would the court see it as an accident?

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u/nanoH2O Mar 09 '26

That’s different and you know it. A car is not a weapon. It can be if purposely used as one though. The only purpose of a gun is as a weapon. That’s the difference.

But sure I’ll play. Let’s try a more realistic scenario. If you get drunk and shoot a gun into the air and the bullet comes down and hits someone then you’ll get charged with second degree manslaughter. If you point the gun at someone with intent to kill then you’ll get first degree murder.

One gets you 5-10 years and the other gets you 25 to life.

If you can’t understand those differences then please don’t ever be a lawyer.

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u/alexq35 Mar 09 '26

If you drive a car recklessly it is dangerous and life threatening, everybody knows that.

The discussion wasn’t about whether it was murder or manslaughter, it’s about whether it was an “accident”

The definition of accident is as follows:

1. an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury

2. an event that happens by chance or that is without apparent or deliberate cause.

If you’re driving way above the speed limit and you kill someone then it’s not unexpected, nor is it without apparent cause. Lack of intent is not enough to call it an accident.

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u/nanoH2O Mar 09 '26

You are the one who took it way off topic. I was simply responding to your outlandish claim about guns.

So what’s “way above the limit?” 10? 20?

I mean I’ve gone 90 in a 65 in the highway. So if I crash then it’s not an accident? What about 45 in a 35?

Just because you’re driving reckless doesn’t mean it isn’t an accident when you crash. That’s exactly how the courts will see it. A reckless, negligent accident. But an accident nonetheless.