A fatal vehicle accident recently occurred in New York. Such car accidents often happen when motorists decide to disobey the law, such as by driving under the influence. Police said they believed the recent crash was caused by a person who was on drugs at the time of the collision.
According to police, a 22-year-old man was driving south on a city street on a Wednesday morning. He suddenly crossed into oncoming traffic and ended up hitting another car in a head-on collision shortly after 10:30 a.m. The 79-year-old woman who was driving the car that was hit died at the accident scene.
The man broke his ankle in the accident and was taken to the hospital. He currently faces charges of driving while under the influence, as police said he was believed to be on heroin, and other charges remain pending. Police continued to investigate the crash.
In car accidents that are caused by drivers who are criminally charged, some victims may feel as if justice is being served during the criminal proceedings. However, some victims may also choose to pursue personal injury claims against the drivers who caused their accidents by acting negligently or recklessly. In the case of fatal accidents, similar claims for wrongful deaths may be filed by the family members who are left to grieve the losses of their loved ones. When a New York criminal trial precedes a civil suit, the evidence presented during the criminal proceedings may be used in the civil proceedings as proof of negligence.
Source: syracuse.com, “Photos show scene of fatal Camillus crash, believed to be caused by man on heroin“, Julie McMahon, April 8, 2015
