The holiday driving season is weeks away, so Arizona drivers will likely begin seeing public service announcements bemoaning the practice of drunk driving. Of course, the dangers of driving while impaired by alcohol are obvious. Alcohol affects a person’s motor skills and judgment; two things that are essential for safely operating a motor vehicle.
Nevertheless, there are a number of drivers who do not heed these warnings and drive drunk. Sometimes this can have disastrous consequences. Such was the case in an accident that occurred in Avondale early Sunday morning. According to an azcentral.com report, a driver who was reportedly impaired by alcohol crashed into another vehicle that was waiting for a light to change.
The force of the crash pushed the car into oncoming traffic, where the driver and passenger in the car were killed after the car collided with a truck that was turning at the time. The driver who caused the crash has been booked on criminal charges of excessive speed and criminal manslaughter. In addition to criminal charges, the driver will likely face a civil suit as well for wrongful death.
A wrongful death lawsuit calls for monetary damages to be paid as a result of a person’s untimely death caused by another person’s negligence. The damages in a wrongful death suit account for lost wages, lost companionship, funeral expenses and a host of other damages associated with a person’s death.
If you have questions about your rights and options after a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident, an experienced personal injury attorney can help.