The vast majority of people across the country have been guilty of poor judgment. This judgment ranges from the relatively minor to the catastrophic. When a person makes the poor decision to drive under the influence of alcohol, many lives can be impacted. A community in North Carolina is coping with the loss of a prominent member after an alleged drunk driver caused a collision that took the man’s life and injured his wife.
The accident occurred in the evening of a day in late-April. Police say that a 21-year-old man was driving when he crossed over into oncoming traffic. His vehicle struck an oncoming car.
There were two occupants of the second vehicle, a husband and wife. A 67-year-old man, known for his involvement in the community, died as a result of the injuries he suffered. His 66-year-old wife was transported to an area hospital for treatment, where she is currently listed in fair condition. The young driver now faces several charges as a result of the accident, including driving while intoxicated.
Most people, even those who haven’t personally experienced it, realize the emotional impact of the unexpected death of a loved one. However, not everyone realizes the financial ramifications of such a loss. At the very least, this man’s family will have to cope with his funeral costs, while his wife will have to deal with her own medical bills and recovery. If it can be proven that the young man’s negligence caused the collision — a claim that would be supported by a guilty verdict or plea in a criminal court — a civil suit filed in a North Carolina courtroom could potentially help alleviate the financial burdens created by the accident by awarding damages as allowed by state law.
Source: wtvd.com, “Raleigh driver charged in fatal I-440 accident“, , April 28, 2014