In terms of fatal accidents, statistics show that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States, at least for people under the age of 35. When a person dies as a result of a motor vehicle accident, his or her survivors may have a valid claim for wrongful death under state law. A wrongful death suit cannot be filed simply because a person has died in a car accident; in the case of single car accident where the driver was intoxicated, for instance, there is likely to be no cause of action for wrongful death. If an intoxicated driver is involved in a traffic accident that causes the death of his or her passenger, or another driver, for example, there is a potential claim for wrongful death. Liability pursuant to a wrongful death lawsuit is a purely civil matter, and this liability would be in addition to any liability that exists under state criminal laws.