$100,000 bail set for driver after fatal drunk driving accident

At a preliminary hearing for a man who allegedly caused the death of two people and injured another, a County District Attorney in Pennsylvania said that the tragedy emphasized the fact that one should never drive while impaired. The tragedy of this drunk driving accident is escalated by the fact that the accident claimed the life of the accused man’s fiance and also a lifelong friend. In addition, he now has to face the only survivor of the accident in court.

The fourth occupant of the car sustained a leg wound that required surgery, along with a fractured neck. She testified that she lost her job as a result of ongoing medical care and physical therapy. It was testified that the four individuals had allegedly been socializing at a war veterans club until about 2 a.m., when they reportedly decided to drive elsewhere. It was reported that they made two stops to obtain more beers and continued on the drive that ended with the vehicle crashing into a tree.

The surviving female testified that some of the occupants of the vehicle had asked the accused to reduce speed. Although the alleged driver’s blood-alcohol level showed 0.094 when it was tested at 8 a.m., officials from the laboratory estimated the percentage to have been between 0.121 and 0.198 four to five hours earlier when the accident had occurred. The laws of Pennsylvania allow the blood-alcohol percentage to be under 0.08 percent. The accused man is awaiting a bail hearing in prison and may be facing more than 14 charges related to vehicular homicide while intoxicated.

When residents of Pennsylvania have lost loved ones in a drunk driving accident, where the driver caused or significantly contributed to the fatalities, they retain the right to file civil claims of wrongful death in a court of law. Similarly, injured victims of such accidents may file personal injury claims in a civil court. With the required evidence, the court may award monetary restitution to cover medical and other costs brought about by the tragedy.

This blog entry was posted on behalf of [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-1″], and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the firm or its attorneys. The information presented in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice.

Source: standardspeaker.com, Man had been drinking before fatal crash, Jim Dino, March 25, 2014