As many New York City residents know, one of the most dangerous things a driver can do is drive while intoxicated. Despite widespread knowledge of this fact, drivers continue to get behind the wheel every day after consuming alcohol or drugs, selfishly putting the lives of others on the road in serious danger. A recent car accident in Manhattan that left several people injured seems to have been caused by a drunk driver.
The crash occurred around 8:30 a.m. in the East Village. According to police, a 32-year-old driver lost control of his car, driving it over a curb and into a fire hydrant, tree and parking meter, causing all of them to fall over. Unfortunately, three employees of a nearby shop were outside working when the crash occurred.
One employee suffered serious injuries, and the other two sustained moderate injuries in the crash. A biker was also riding by at the time of the incident. He was hit by the fire hydrant and taken to a hospital with minor injuries. The driver was arrested for DUI after refusing to take a breath test.
As this crash shows, one person’s poor choice can lead to serious injuries for many others. When a victim is injured due to a driver’s negligent actions, however, he or she does have legal options. A personal injury lawsuit offers a good way for victims to hold driver accountable for causing injuries and destruction. Not only can a successful personal injury lawsuit provide compensation to a victim for injuries, but it may also help prevent a driver from making the same poor choice again.
Source: Wall Street Journal, “Four Hurt in Violent Crash,” Pervaiz Shallwani and Tamer El-Ghobashy, June 19, 2013