According to the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, 409 people in Pennsylvania lost their lives in 2012 from alcohol-related driving accidents. Of those accidents, more than 75% of the drunk drivers had blood alcohol concentrations higher than .15. This amount is well over the state’s legal limit. Drunk driving is a serious problem not only for those hurt in auto accidents, but also those who lose loved ones in senseless drunk driving crashes.
A recent drunk driving accident in Bedminster Township sadly demonstrates that drunk driving is still a problem for people in Pottsville and the rest of the state. A 64-year-old man was driving a car on Kellers Church Road when he crossed over the center line into oncoming traffic. He collided with a motorcycle driven by a 47-year-old man. While the drunk driver and his passenger were not hurt in the crash, the motorcyclist was killed, and his passenger was injured.
The motorcyclist died at a local hospital after medical personnel were unable to save his life. In the wake of this senseless tragedy, his family will not only have to deal with his death, but also the medical bills that accrued due to his accident-related hospitalization. They too will become victims as they cope with the hardship of losing a loved one.
Though authorities have brought criminal charges against the drunk driver, the victim’s family members may choose to bring claims of their own against the responsible party. Through the civil courts, the family members may be able to make claims based on negligence and wrongful death. If successful, their claims could result in compensation for the damages they incurred as a result of losing the victim in this drunk driving accident.
Source: The Morning Call, “Driver in crash that killed motorcyclist faces homicide charge,” Tracy Jordan, July 21, 2014