Earlier this month, a 26-year-old man was killed in a tragic car accident in Indiana County. According to a local news report covering the accident, the crash occurred around 3:00 a.m. at the intersection of Ofman and Shellbark Road in West Wheatfield Township. The driver, who is presumed to have been driving too fast, failed to stop at an intersection and then drove into a wooded area. The car then hit several trees and rocks, and as a result, the car’s passenger was thrown through the windshield, and the car landed on him. Police believe that the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol, adding an extra layer of tragedy to the accident.
Many car accidents are unavoidable, but in some situations, the driver is actually able to avoid certain risk factors that contribute to the accident, including intoxicated driving. Unfortunately, however, intoxicated driving remains a leading cause of Indiana car accidents. Most often, these cases involve alcohol intoxication, although the law does not distinguish between alcohol intoxication and intoxication from other substances. No matter what form, intoxicated driving puts the driver, the passengers, and others on the road at risk.
Driving while intoxicated is against the law, and when a fatal accident occurs as a result of an intoxicated driver, criminal charges are always possible. These charges may come with fines or jail time for the driver, depending on the nature of the crash and the injuries. However, these criminal charges do little to help the accident victim’s family deal with the expenses they occurred, or the tragic loss they suffered as a result of the accident.
After tragic accidents such as these, Indiana law allows the victims’ estate, usually controlled by a surviving family member, to file a wrongful death claim against the person or persons responsible for the crash. Most often, this includes the intoxicated driver. If successful, the estate and the surviving family members may be compensated for funeral and burial expenses, medical and hospital bills, lost wages the victim would likely have earned, and attorney costs. These damages are capped at $300,000 under Indiana law. Because wrongful death suits are civil actions, they can be filed regardless of whether or not criminal charges are being filed.
Have You Been a Victim of an Indiana Drunk Driving Accident?
If you have recently been injured or lost a loved one in an Indiana drunk driving accident, contact the dedicated personal injury lawyers at Parr Richey Frandsen Patterson Kruse today. You may be entitled to monetary compensation from the individual responsible for your injuries. At our Indiana personal injury law firm, we represent accident victims and their loved ones in a wide array of personal injury cases, including those arising from drunk driving accidents. Our attorneys have decades of experience representing clients and navigating Indiana personal injury law. To learn more and to discuss your case with one of our dedicated attorneys, call 888-532-7766 to schedule your free consultation. Calling is risk-free, and we will not charge you for our services unless we can help you receive monetary compensation.