A drunk driver rear-ended another vehicle on Missouri’s Highway 30 in April 2021 that ended in tragedy. The family dies in car accident, including a man, woman, and their baby. According to law enforcement, after being struck from behind, their vehicle swerved off the highway, caught on fire, and hit a tree. Law enforcement charged the drunk driver, a 26-year-old Fenton man, with a DWI, causing the death of two or more people.
The defendant told a law enforcement officer that he had “seven shots of Crown and water.” Preliminary testing revealed a blood-alcohol level of .192% — well over twice the legal limit in Missouri. Prosecutors charged the defendant with four other misdemeanors, including driving in a reckless manner and possession of marijuana.
Recovering Compensation After a Drunk Driving Accident
If you or your loved one have been injured in a drunk driving that cause family dies in car accident, you are likely feeling overwhelmed and wondering what to do next. If your loved one was killed in a drunk driving accident, nothing can bring him or her back. However, you can recover compensation that will help your family financially during this difficult time. In Missouri, surviving family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the drunk driver who caused their loved one’s injuries.
When a victim of a drunk driving accident survived the accident but sustained severe injuries, he or she can file a personal injury lawsuit against the drunk driver. In Missouri, the plaintiff who brings a lawsuit against the defendant must prove that the defendant’s negligence caused his or her injuries. In drunk-driving cases, plaintiffs can use evidence of the driver’s blood-alcohol level from the police report to show that the defendant was driving negligently.
Victims of drunk driving accidents are entitled to economic damages for their lost incomes, medical bills, and other damages incurred as a result of their injuries. They are also entitled to non-economic damages for pain and suffering. When a defendant acted wantonly or egregiously, courts can choose to award additional punitive damages to punish the defendant and serve as a warning. Punitive damages are often awarded in drunk-driving cases, especially when the defendant’s blood alcohol level is extremely high.
Seeking Compensation Through an Insurance Policy
Many people seek compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. In Missouri and Kansas, drivers must carry minimum levels of insurance coverage of only $25,000. Depending on the insurance policy, filing an insurance claim could be your best option.
Unfortunately, some drivers fail to carry car insurance, or their car insurance coverage is not sufficient to cover all of your expenses. In that case, you may be able to file a claim for uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage or may be able to pursue a claim against a bar or restaurant for overserving the drunk driver.
Contact a Missouri Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
If you or your loved one has been injured in a drunk driving or if a family dies in car accident in Missouri, you need an aggressive personal injury lawyer on your side who understands dram shop cases and how to prosecute civil cases against drunk drivers. Contact Griggs Injury Law today to schedule your free initial consultation.
