Drinking and driving is a decision that can and often does lead to unintended and horrifying consequences.  Alcohol does not discriminate in its effect on those who get behind the wheel, which means that even our best and brightest can be put at risk when someone consumes alcohol and then hits the road.  Tragically, a teen honor student was killed in a Long Island pedestrian accident last night, and police suspect that the driver had been drinking before the crash.

The latest fatal Long Island pedestrian accident occurred last night on the Sunrise Highway near County Line Road in Amityville.  The driver, 46-year-old Kenneth Serwan, smashed into 18-year-old Tynielle Silvera at that location, and she was killed as a result.  The young woman was an honors student who was waking home after tutoring another student.  Police arrested the driver at the scene on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

New York Pedestrian Accident Statistics

First and foremost, we would like to send our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of the woman who was killed.  To lose such a promising life at such a young age is truly tragic, and we hope that justice is served in the forthcoming prosecution.  In addition, this Long Island pedestrian accident will now become part of the overall statistics regarding New York pedestrian accidents.  Every year, more than 15,000 such crashes occur, leading to almost as many injuries and to more than 300 deaths.

New York Wrongful Death Lawyers

Assuming the available facts are accurate and it is found that the driver was drunk, it could lead to the filing of a New York wrongful death lawsuit against this driver, regardless of the status of the criminal prosecution.  If such a lawsuit is filed and is successful, the family could be compensated for their losses that include medical, funeral and burial costs as well as their emotional distress if they are awarded damages.

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