Much effort has gone into raising the level of awareness of the dangers of drunk driving both in Florham Park and throughout the rest of the U.S. Even so, it continues to be a problem that local motorists must deal with.
Often people view drunk driving as a singular crime (in that it typically only affects the one who chooses to do it). In reality, however, driving while intoxicated can wreak untold consequences on many outside of whoever engages in it. Those consequences can be costly (both financially and emotionally).
Child struck by drunk driver
A New York family currently finds itself having to deal with those consequences after a drunk driver hit a child outside her home. Reports did not detail the exact circumstances of the accident other than to say that it was a local teen that hit the four-year-old. He reportedly was under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident. The girl received treatment at a nearby hospital but ultimately died from her injuries.
Holding people responsible for impaired driving
As one might expect, the teen driver in this case faces criminal charges, as will most who cause an accident while driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Yet should liability for such an accident end there? People might wonder whether the parties that furnished drivers with the substances that led to their impairment should also share in the responsibility for any damages those drivers cause. The legal philosophies of “social host liability” and dram shop laws allow for just that. Anyone looking to cite such principles when seeking compensation for an accident may wish to first seek out the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney.
