Car Accidents

New York car accident results in woman’s death

One of the most deadly types of accidents is a crash involving a motor vehicle and pedestrians. Pedestrians have little protection against a large, heavy vehicle, especially when it is moving at a fast pace. When a person is killed in a pedestrian-auto accident in New York, his or her family members naturally can’t help but to feel both grieved and angry with the driver who reportedly caused the car accident.

A collision recently took place in New York when a college student was walking with friends. The female student was 19 years old. A vehicle operated by a person who allegedly was driving while intoxicated struck her, and she died as a result of the crash.

A 20-year-old woman who was walking with her also died in the collision. The driver who reportedly struck the pedestrians fled the scene. Police later arrested a 63-year-old woman, who faces charges of first-degree vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated. Reportedly, the woman already had a previous drunk driving conviction.

The family members of the deceased car accident victim certainly have the right to file a wrongful death suit against the driver who is deemed to have caused the crash. Under New York law, they may seek reimbursement for monetary damages resulting from the car accident, such as funeral costs. Proof of a drunk driving conviction, if achieved, may be used to help to establish the driver’s liability in civil court. Liability must be established by competent proof submitted to the court before financial damages can be awarded to the fatal accident victim’s family.

Source: Winnetka Talk, Winnetka woman killed in New York hit-and-run crash, Sarah McCausland, Feb. 4, 2014