Drinking and driving is never a good decision, and the 'lucky' ones who engage in this conduct do so without getting arrested or causing harm to themselves or others.  Tragically, this sort of alleged bad decision did not end well at all for the driver of a vehicle or her passenger over the weekend when a one-car Bronx DUI accident took the life of a passenger in a vehicle that was being driven by someone who is suspected of driving under the influence.

The latest fatal New York car accident took place on Sunday morning at approximately 12:30 a.m. when 29-year-old Maria Lara was driving her Saturn vehicle on the Hutchinson River Parkway in The Bronx near near the Orchard Beach exit.  For some reason, the vehicle slammed into the guard rail, spun completely off the road and slammed into a nearby tree at what's believed to be a high rate of speed.  The passenger, whose name is being withheld pending notification of family members, died at the scene. 

Lara was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of her injuries, and she is listed in stable condition.  She has also been charged with charged with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated.  These are clearly very serious charges, and she could face significant prison time if convicted depending on certain factors including any prior record that she has.

New York Car Accidents

First and foremost, we'd like to extend our condolences to the family and friends of the passenger who was killed.  Losing a life in this manner is nothing short of tragic, and we hope that those close to the victim are able to come together and help each other through what will surely be a difficult time.  In addition, this latest New York DUI accident will only add to the body of statistics.  Every year in New York, more than 300,000 car accidents take place, injuring more than 130,000 people and killing another 1,200.  In terms of New York car accidents where alcohol was listed as a factor, almost 9,000 such incidents take place on an annual basis, injuring more than 4,600 people and killing more than 150.

New York Wrongful Death Lawyers

In addition to the serious criminal charges the driver faces, the family of the passenger who was killed could also bring a New York wrongful death lawsuit against the driver, as she owed a legal duty of care to the victim.  If such a claim was successful, it could bring about damages for funeral, burial and medical expenses as well as compensation for lost income and loss of companionship.  If this has happened to someone you love, seek the help of New York wrongful death lawyers who have been successfully fighting for the rights of suffering families for almost 40 years.  Contact Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald today to schedule a free initial consultation.