When someone consumes alcohol, gets behind the wheel of a vehicle and kills someone, that person often faces serious criminal charges as a result.  However, simply facing criminal charges does not mean that the defendant will be convicted on all charges.  That's what occurred with a verdict returned in response to a fatal New York DUI accident that left a pregnant woman dead, as the defendant in the case avoided conviction on a charge of aggravated vehicular homicide.

According to court records, the New York DUI accident that led to the prosecution of Keston Brown occurred in March of 2009 when he was driving a construction van that veered out of control on East 37th Street.  As a result of hitting the gas pedal instead of the brake, the van that Mr. Brown was driving hit and killed 29-year-old Ysemny Ramos, who was pregnant at the time.  At the end of the trial that was just completed, Mr. Brown was convicted of manslaughter and will face between 5 and 15 years in prison.

New York Car Pedestrian Accident Statistics

First and foremost, our hearts go out to the family of the woman who was killed in this New York DUI accident, as going through a trial only increases the emotional struggle involved.  In addition, this New York pedestrian accident has since become part of the statewide statistics concerning these crashes.  Every year, 15,000 people are injured and more than 300 people are killed in these occurrences.

New York DUI Accident Lawyers

While it would be impossible to tell how the family of the woman who was killed reacted to the verdict, those who have faced a similar situation should understand that the criminal prosecution process is not the only avenue for justice.  Those in this position could file a New York wrongful death lawsuit against a drunk driver who kills a family member, and the statute of limitations for filing such a civil action to recover damages is two years from the date of the death.

If you have lost someone you love to a drunk driver, you need to seek the help of New York wrongful death lawyers who have been successfully fighting for the rights of suffering families for nearly 40 years.  Contact Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald today to schedule a free initial consultation.