Forgiveness is a cornerstone of Christian theology. In fact, Jesus himself said that if someone strikes your cheek, you should turn and offer them the other cheek instead of retaliating. He also encouraged people to forgive someone seventy times seven times. His entire Earthly existence was a testament to that concept, including His crucifixion.
Many Christians seek to imitate that Christ-like forgiveness in their own lives. They may forgive those who cause intentional harm and those who engage in negligent behavior. The idea of taking legal action against another person who might have their own struggles could make many devout Christians uncomfortable. They have faith that they will receive the support they need, and they likely also want to forgive the person who broke the law or did something foolish that led to their injury. However, turning the other cheek isn’t necessarily the right solution for those injured in a car crash.
Insurance and civil courts exist for good reasons
There is nothing vengeful or avaricious about holding people accountable for their misconduct. Car crashes typically only occur when someone makes a major mistake because they weren’t appropriately cautious or because they do something illegal. Maryland law requires liability insurance coverage so that individual drivers won’t be at risk of financial hardship if they cause a crash. Therefore, negotiating an insurance claim is not an act that causes any harm to the party at fault for the wreck.
Civil lawsuits are not about causing harm but rather about recovering from it. It is only possible to pursue a lawsuit when people or businesses cause verifiable harm to another party through misconduct or negligence. Any compensation awarded would relate to the liability for the incident.
A judgment is not a punishment but rather be appropriate payment that they should render to the people they harmed. The Old Testament includes numerous laws outlining how those who injure or harm others would have to both compensate the affected people and make right with their community as a whole.
Someone who is expecting another person to take responsibility for causing a car crash is neither greedy nor malicious. It is conduct that aligns with the scriptures and may actually be the best and most peaceful path forward. Weighing the moral and philosophical implications of a crash-related insurance claim or lawsuit may help people feel more comfortable about seeking financial reimbursement in this way.