Drunk driving allegedly responsible for recent crash

A man in New York has been placed under arrest after he, while allegedly driving under the influence, crashed his car, fatally injuring his friend. Drunk driving destroys lives. The surviving family members of the victim lost so much in a matter of seconds. As driver negligence is thought responsible for their losses, they may pursue relief through legal means.

According to reports, a 31-year-old male was operating his vehicle on Atlantic Avenue at approximately 5:10 a.m., on Wednesday, July 31. For unknown reasons, he suddenly veered from his lane of traffic and struck a construction vehicle — which was unoccupied at the time. The force of impact caused the front of the man’s car to cave, and rescue teams had to cut the roof off of the vehicle to free him and his passenger — a 32-year-old male. The passenger suffered critical injuries and was transported to an area hospital for care. Sadly, he later succumbed to his injuries.

The driver responsible for this event was also injured — though his injuries weren’t believed to be life-threatening. Since the collision, this individual has been charged with manslaughter and DUI. Court dates regarding this matter have not been released to the public. As of the latest report, the accused was still recuperating in the hospital.

When a single-vehicle crash occurs, some might not be aware that passengers who are injured or the surviving family members of passengers who are killed may be entitled to seek compensation for their losses. At the end of the day, the driver of a car is responsible for the safety of his or her passengers, even if a passenger was in the vehicle willingly. If drunk driving contributes to a passenger’s injuries or death, civil claims may be filed in a New York court in an effort for victims or their loved ones to collect monetary damages. In this case, legal counsel can assist the decedent’s family in pursuing a wrongful death claim, which, if successful, would grant them some relief and the ability to focus on their grief rather than the financial stress of dealing with the untimely death of a loved one.