Some people think nothing of getting behind the wheel after having a few drinks. Some may even think they drive better while drunk. But drunk driving is always a dangerous endeavor. For if a drunk driver were to cause a car accident, not only could it result in serious injuries to innocent victims. It could even result in death.
A Massachusetts man recently perished after the car he was driving was smashed into by an allegedly drunk and high driver. Police estimate the driver was traveling nearly 70 miles per hour when he ran a red light and struck the victim’s vehicle. The driver’s blood alcohol concentration was over .111 when the accident occurred, and the police also believe he may have been high on marijuana. The driver now faces charges of motor vehicle homicide while driving drunk. He has pleaded not guilty.
When a victim is killed by a drunk driver, that driver could face more than criminal charges. They could face a civil lawsuit as well. To aid in such a lawsuit, the victim of a drunk driving accident may rely on the report compiled by police regarding the car accident. After pulling a suspected drunk driver over, the police may question the driver as to whether they’ve been drinking. The police will also take note of anything such as beer or liquor bottles in open view that may indicate the driver was drinking. Another inspection police may perform is a field sobriety test. Finally, the police may request the driver to submit to a breathalyzer test that would measure the driver’s blood-alcohol concentration. All of this information would be included in the official police report.
The victim, in this case, was well-loved by his community, and they deeply mourn his loss. But for other victims in these circumstances, filing a lawsuit against the drunk driver may be one way for them to find some peace and closure with the tragedy in their lives.
Source: boston.com, “Middleborough man denies drunk driving charges,” March 13, 2013
