When drivers get behind the wheel in an intoxicated state, it can create danger for others on the road. Sadly, a drunk driving accident can become an example of how families can be torn apart from the loss of a loved one. Two New York college students were killed in a recent accident with an alleged drunk driver.
According to reports, a group of pedestrians were walking along the shoulder of a roadway when three of them were hit by a motorist. After the collision, the driver of the vehicle left the scene. Authorities arrived at the at the crash location and discovered that two of the victims were already dead. Both of the deceased victims were students at the same school. Medical personnel transported the third victim to the hospital for treatment.
The third victim’s injuries have been determined to be non-life threatening. Authorities eventually apprehended the driver and placed her under arrest. She was charged with vehicular homicide and driving under the influence. She is being held on a $100,000 bond. A support system has been put in place at the school the deceased students attended.
A drunk driving accident is often times a deadly encounter for victims. When victims lose their lives, it leaves their loved ones in emotional turmoil. Since the hit-and-run driver was criminally charged, family members of the deceased may be wondering what, if any, legal recourse is available to them. The surviving families may decide to file wrongful death claims against the driver to recover compensation for funeral expenses and emotional suffering. Successfully litigated claims in New York may bring about financial relief that the families deserve as they grieve.
Source: Chicago Tribune, Winnetka teen 1 of 2 killed in New York hit-and-run, Deanese Williams-Harris, Feb. 1, 2014
