Woman dies following alleged drunk-driving collision

On behalf of Aiken and Aiken P.C. Personal Injury Attorneys posted in Wrongful Death, on Friday, October 31, 2014

Brockton police reported that a 26-year-old woman whose car was allegedly struck by a drunk driver on Oct. 22 succumbed to her injuries on Oct. 24 around 11:00 a.m. The accident happened at night on East Ashland Street. The 26-year-old woman had been receiving treatment in the surgical unit when she died as a result of injuries she sustained in the accident. The alleged driver of the other car, a 53-year-old Brockton woman, reportedly fled the scene of the accident in a gray Honda CRV. An accident witness reportedly provided a license plate number to responding law enforcement officers. The officers found the vehicle parked in a driveway with heavy damage. Upon locating the car, they determined that the 53-year-old woman was the driver and determined that she was intoxicated. She was initially arrested and charged with drunken driving causing serious personal injury, leaving the scene of an injury accident and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Since the victim died, the woman’s charges may be upgraded. She has posted bond and is ordered to see a probation officer and to not drink or possess any alcohol while her charges are pending. When people are killed in accidents caused by drunk drivers, the drivers may be held civilly liable in addition to any criminal penalties they may face. Through filing a wrongful death claim, the loved ones of victims wrongfully killed may be able to recover both compensatory and punitive damages from the driver and his or her insurance company. Potential damages include such things as medical expenses, funeral expenses, bereavement counseling, property losses, lost inheritance rights, lost current and future income and loss of companionship. Source: The Enterprise, “Randolph woman struck by car in Brockton dies“, Ed Donga, October 25, 2014