It is understandable that relatively inexperienced drivers may have difficulty responding to a driving error or distraction. However, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can further inhibit a driver’s ability. In fact, police suspect that DUI was a factor in a recent fatal car accident in California.
The accident reportedly happened at approximately 3 a.m. on a day in mid-January. Police say that they were called to the scene of an accident that involved a tree versus a vehicle. When they arrived at the scene, they reportedly discovered a victim nearby who had been ejected from the vehicle.
That victim — whose identity was not released in the immediate aftermath of the accident — was transported to the hospital but passed away. The alleged driver, an 18-year-old man, is said to have fled the scene. Reports indicate that he turned himself in approximately an hour after the accident. After he was treated for injuries, he was arrested, suspected of DUI hit-and-run and gross vehicular manslaughter.
Unfortunately, a family is now left coping with the unexpected, seemingly preventable death of their loved one. For many families in California, a loss such as this comes with both emotional and financial consequences. While coming to terms with their grief as a result of the fatal car accident, many struggle to ensure that their financial responsibilities are met, often complicated by funeral expenses and medical costs. To help them meet these responsibilities, those who lost a family member as a result of another’s negligence often choose to seek recompense by filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the parties deemed responsible.
