Impaired driving thought responsible for fatal accident

A New York teenager recently lost his life in a single-vehicle accident the day after Christmas. Impaired driving is thought responsible for the collision. If negligence can be established against the driver, the victim’s surviving family members may be able to successfully pursue compensation for their losses.

At approximately 1 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 26, a 22-year-old male was driving his sedan over the Manhattan Bridge when — after reaching the Chinatown side — he lost control and hit a curb, fire hydrant and a light pole, causing his car to flip onto its top and catch on fire. The driver and a passenger in the car had to be cut out of the wreckage. Both were transported to an area hospital for treatment. Sadly, the passenger — a 17-year-old male — died of his injuries shortly after arriving at the medical center.

The driver has been charged with DUI. It is unclear if any other charges are pending in this case. Court dates regarding this matter have not been released to the public.

This event is just sad for everyone affected by it — one life lost, others ruined. Losing a loved one in an impaired driving incident can be difficult with which to cope. In this case, the victim’s surviving family members may be entitled to seek compensation for their losses by pursuing legal actions against the driver or the owner of the vehicle — if different — in a New York civil court. While wrongful death claims can be challenging to litigate, if successful, damages may be awarded for all recoverable losses.

Source: New York Daily News, “Teen passenger killed in Chinatown car crash“, Thomas Tracy, Chelsia Rose Marcius and Larry McShane, Dec. 26, 2017