The potential consequences of drinking and driving are well-publicized. Despite this knowledge, many car accidents are believed to be caused by someone who is under the influence. For example, police believe alcohol may have been a factor in a recent fiery accident in California that cost a man his life.
The accident happened one night in early April. Police say that a 32-year-old man was driving a sedan when the vehicle ran off an exit ramp and struck a tree. A fire started in the vehicle after the collision.
While the driver was able to escape, his passenger, a 28-year-old man, was trapped in the car. He died as a result. The driver is believed to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time and was detained on suspicion of murder and DUI causing injury.
It is often difficult for people who have not lost a loved one to understand the feelings associated with such a loss, and grief may be compounded by the knowledge that the death may have been preventable. While family members struggle to come to terms with their emotions, many people who have lost loved ones must also deal with a precarious financial situation. Funeral expenses and loss of wages caused by car accidents often create a burden for which many families are unprepared. However, a successfully presented wrongful death case in a California civil court could result in an award of damages that could help the family handle the financial ramifications stemming from the accident. While such a result will not lessen their grief, it would allow surviving family members to focus on their emotional recovery rather than their finances.
Source: vcstar.com, “Driver in fatal crash on Highway 33 north of Ventura accused of DUI”, April 10, 2015