A minor was killed in an accident involving a drunk driver in Raleigh on Oct. 14. According to authorities, the accident happened when the 49-year-old female driver lost control of her vehicle. She allegedly hit a speed limit sign and several trees before the vehicle rolled over.
According to police, the woman’s BAC was .32 percent, more than four times the legal limit in North Carolina. She was also allegedly speeding at the time of the accident. Police reported that she was driving about 74 mph in a 45 mph zone.
The minor passenger, a 12-year-old boy, was killed as a result of the accident. The driver suffered serious injuries and was taken to Wake Medical for treatment. Police charged the woman with exceeding a safe speed and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. In cases such as this, the family of a victim who is killed in a car accident might be able to use the police report and any charges brought against the at-fault driver to show negligence and prove that the victim’s death was a direct result of the driver’s actions.
If the family of a deceased victim in a drunk driving accident decides to file a wrongful death claim and the claim is successful, the family might receive both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages might include funeral and burial expenses as well as the loss of financial support. Non-economic damages might include remuneration for loss of love and companionship. Additionally, if the driver’s actions can be shown to be willfully negligent, the family might also receive punitive damages.
Source: Time Warner Cable News, “Drunk Driver Causes Fatal Accident in Raleigh“, October 14, 2014
