Man Responsible for Fatal Accident Had Series of Arrests
On September 12, a Lower Township, NJ man was killed, and his wife and teenage daughter critically injured, when a man’s car crossed the center line on a curve and hit their car. According to an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer, the driver of the vehicle responsible for the accident was charged with death by auto and driving while intoxicated. This is his eighth drunken-driving arrest since 1996.
For 13 years, the legal system has tried to stop this particular man from drinking and driving. He was sent to alcohol treatment and to jail and his driver’s license was taken away. Yet the Philadelphia resident continued to get arrested.
On Saturday, September 12, a 50-year-old father of four was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, minutes from his home on Route 9 in New Jersey.
His wife was taken to Atlantic City Regional Trauma Center, and their 13-year-old daughter was taken to Cape Regional Medical Center. Both remain in critical condition.
According to the article, the man who caused the accident had been through the system many times in Philadelphia and had been given numerous opportunities for rehabilitation. They took the man’s license away, but he was still driving. Many people have been killed by repeat offenders.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving is pushing for tougher legislation to target repeat offenders because the recidivism rate among drunken drivers is so high. After a third conviction in New Jersey, drivers are required to install ignition locks that prevent anyone from starting a car without first passing a breath test.
The man who caused this accident should be held both criminally and civilly responsible for the death of the father and for the injuries of his wife and daughter. Their families would be well advised to seek the advice of an experienced wrongful death/personal injury attorney. Cherry, Fieger, and Marciano understand the devastating impact a Pennsylvania wrongful death can have on a family. They can help you find justice and compensation for your loved one’s death.
The amount that can be claimed and the heirs who are allowed to file a Pennsylvania wrongful death lawsuit can vary widely depending on jurisdiction. In addition, statutes of limitation may come into play that limit the time a family has to file a wrongful death lawsuit. For these reasons and due to the complexity of these cases, it is recommended that families who think their family member’s death was wrongful first contact a wrongful death attorney for a case assessment. If the case is valid, the attorney can help investigate the claim, gather evidence, represent them in court, and collect the compensation they deserve.
The experienced Pennsylvania wrongful death lawyers at Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can also use their knowledge, their aptitude and their ability in pursuit of obtaining considerable damages for the injured party.
Source article: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20090915_Man_charged_in_fatal_accident_had_string_of_arrests.html?viewAll=y&c=y
