DUI Crash Leaves Victim Paralyzed: Delco Driver Sentenced
An 18-year-old from Delaware County was asleep in the backseat of a friend’s car when an SUV driven by a drunken driver crashed into the car, severely injuring his spinal cord and leaving him paralyzed.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that on September 22, the driver of the SUV was sentenced to three years and eight months to 14 years and six months in prison. On Aug. 17, the driver pleaded guilty to aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, fleeing police, and other charges. He has been ordered to pay about $35,000 in restitution.
According to the article, the driver had numerous legal charges, including underage drinking, curfew violations, fighting, and harassment. He was truant from school and had his driver’s license suspended for juvenile drug charges. He was ordered twice by the courts into drug rehabilitation.
On April 29, 12 days after getting out of rehab, the man stole the family SUV and drove drunk. The police followed him for 1.7 miles and attempted to stop him as he swerved back and forth and blew through stop signs and a red light before crashing into the car carrying Jewell and two other Ridley High School teens.
The injured victim is still in pain from the accident and is dependent on others for most of his care.
The driver in this incident should be held both criminally and civilly responsible for the victim’s injuries. His family would be well advised to seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney.
The skilled Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers at Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano use their knowledge, their aptitude and their ability in pursuit of obtaining considerable damages for the injured party.
Experts of the medical and technical fields are called in to provide much needed insight with subject matter including structural engineering, environmental engineering, general and specified medicine as well as accident reconstruction. Working with these experts greatly helps in the building of a strong case. If you or someone you know has been injured due to negligence in Pennsylvania, we can assist you in evaluating your case. Contact a skilled Philadelphia personal injury lawyer at Cherry, Fieger & Marciano today.
Source report: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20090923_Delco_driver_sentenced_in_DUI_crash.html
