An Arizona man believed to have caused an accident that resulted in one death and another injury was accused of being under the influence at the time of the crash on Aug 21. According to a report, the incident took place near the intersection of 51st Avenue and Estrella Drive in Laveen.
It appeared that the 55-year-old man T-boned a van in an intersection after failing to stop at a designated sign. One of the passengers was thrown from the van and later crushed by the same vehicle. The other occupant, identified as a 56-year-old man, suffered injuries described as life-threatening. At the time that the report was released, he remained in critical condition.
It was determined that the driver allegedly responsible for causing the crash had a blood alcohol content level of .2 percent. In Arizona, this BAC is categorized as a super extreme DUI.
While some drivers are distracted or fatigued when they cause a fatal accident, others may decide to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If it can be determined that an impaired driver caused a crash that resulted in the death of a loved one, a family member who sustained damages as a result may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim against that driver. This type of claim can potentially allow a loved one to seek financial compensation for the deceased person’s death. Depending upon the unique circumstances of each case, these damages can include medical and funeral costs, loss of income if the person was providing financial support for their surviving loved ones and loss of companionship.
Source: AZCentral.com, “MCSO: Driver’s BAC more than twice the legal limit“, Corina Vanek and Matthew Casey, August 21, 2014