A 26-year-old woman was killed in a New York car accident when the 2015 Honda Civic in which she was a passenger crashed into a tractor-trailer. The fatal truck accident occurred at 367 Vandervoort Avenue in Brooklyn. Officials say the 27-year-old driver of the Civic was speeding while under the influence of alcohol when he crashed into the side of the tractor-trailer. His passenger suffered fatal head trauma and died at Woodhull Hospital.
The driver sustained minor injuries. He faces charges including manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, reckless driving, and operating a motor vehicle impaired by drugs.
Drivers who operate their vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs put themselves, their passengers and the people around them in harm’s way. Alcohol can delay their response times, encourage them to make poor choices and impair their motor functions. It is illegal to drive in New York City with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or higher. But, any amount of alcohol can impair a motorist’s ability to drive safely.
In spite of everything we know about the dangers of drunk driving, alcohol is still a common contributing factor in serious injury and fatal crashes. According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, there were 8,368 alcohol-related crashes in New York in the year 2013. In those accidents, 387 people were killed, including 201 drunk drivers and 62 passengers.
Drunk drivers can be held accountable for the injuries and deaths they cause, even when the victims are in their own vehicle. If you have lost a loved one in a DUI accident, you have the right to pursue compensation for your tragic loss. Support may be available for medical bills, funeral and burial costs, lost future income, and other damages. Please contact an experienced NYC DUI victim lawyer who can help you understand your legal rights and options.
Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP can help. Contact us at (212) 986- 7353.
Source: http://dmv.ny.gov/statistic/2013alcohol.pdf