The Consequences of Impaired Driving and Fatal Car Crashes in North Carolina

The 2014 story of a fatal car crash in Raleigh, North Carolina, remains a stern warning to anyone thinking of getting behind the wheel impaired. This accident had tragic outcomes and serious legal ramifications for the teen driver, yet like many of the worst drunk driving accidents, it was completely preventable.

Sadly, our Raleigh car wreck attorneys see countless impaired drivers cause fatalities and serious injuries every year, despite the serious consequences. If you’ve been injured in a car accident or lost a loved one due to a negligent driver, you have legal rights under North Carolina law.

Laws set boundaries that some drivers choose to ignore. All states consider an adult driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08% or more to be intoxicated, although charges can be brought against drivers with lower BAC levels when impairment is evident. If an accident involves a commercial vehicle, the permitted BAC is even lower (0.4%). North Carolina has a zero-tolerance stance against drivers under 21 who are under the influence of any controlled substances or alcohol.

In the accident mentioned above, an 18-year-old woman was driving her boyfriend’s Toyota on Interstate 40 in Raleigh when she lost control of the car. A witness told 911 dispatchers the Toyota driver tried to change lanes but swerved away at the last second after noticing another vehicle already occupied the lane.

Although police hadn’t immediately confirmed the details, the witness said the overcorrection apparently caused the Toyota to run off the road and hit a tree.

One of two male passengers, a 20-year-old military graduate from Cary who was sitting in the front seat, died instantly in the motor vehicle accident. The driver and a male backseat passenger, an 18-year-old Cary teen who wasn’t wearing a seat belt, were seriously injured.

Drunk driving convictions in North Carolina carry steep penalties, fines, and license revocation. In the worst drunk driving accidents, courts will heavily weigh mitigating factors, such as the level of impairment from drugs or alcohol and gross negligence.

Authorities said the underage female driver in the fatal Raleigh crash was impaired by something that wasn’t alcohol. The Toyota crashed at a speed higher than the posted limit. Likely charges against the teen include death by vehicle and an adult DWI charge.

Our car wreck attorneys also advise that Raleigh bars and restaurants overserving drivers who then cause serious and fatal car crashes may also face legal penalties along with the driver, whether or not the person was underage.

Even when alcohol- and drug-related accidents, like this one in Raleigh, involve criminal charges, the victims have rights to file claims against negligent drivers of any age. Many accident victims don’t realize they can make a civil claim against a drunk driver, but doing so can help you recover damages from personal injuries or property losses.

Our car wreck attorneys can assist you with navigating the worst drunk driving accidents to hold the vehicle operator responsible for their actions. We’ll file wrongful death lawsuits against drivers who cause fatal crashes in Raleigh and the surrounding area. Our team also handles catastrophic personal injuries for victims who are paralyzed, mentally impaired, or seriously harmed by a negligent driver.

If you have any questions about seeking justice for damages, injuries, or a wrongful death caused by an impaired driver, contact Miller Law Group for a consultation. Our experienced accident lawyers understand drunk driving laws and how to investigate these crashes to get you the answers and compensation you deserve.

Source: Cary News, “Family grieves for Cary man killed in I-40 crash” Thomasi McDonald, News & Observer, May 30, 2014