It has been proven over and over again that alcohol and driving do not mix. It impairs both judgment and reaction time. However, despite knowing that these are potential effects of driving under the influence, people still continue to do so, risking their lives and the lives of innocent bystanders who happen to be nearby. An accident in North Carolina, believed to be a result of driving under the influence of alcohol, proves the effects of drinking and driving and could ultimately lead to a wrongful death case on behalf of the deceased victim.
The accident occurred in the early morning hours in mid-June. One driver was traveling in the southbound lanes of a major North Carolina interstate. A second driver, a 21-year-old male, was allegedly driving in the wrong direction in the same lanes. Police believe he was driving north in the southbound lanes for approximately two miles.
It was then that the young driver struck the southbound driver head-on, causing his death. The surviving driver has been hospitalized with serious injuries. The accident closed the interstate for several hours. Police say they are still investigating the incident, and charges are likely pending.
If the young man was actually driving on the wrong side of the road as claimed, regardless of his level of sobriety, authorities will likely attempt to hold him criminally responsible for the accident. Considering his injuries, police are likely awaiting the results of toxicology reports to determine exactly what criminal charges are appropriate. However, even without criminal charges, the family of the deceased man can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the alleged culprit in a North Carolina civil court. If a judge determines that the victim’s death was caused by the man’s negligence, the family could receive compensation of the unexpected expenses caused by the accident.
Source: Charlotte Observer, “1 killed in wrong-way crash on I-77,” Steve Lyttle and Lindsay Ruebens, June 23, 2013