An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after a two-car crash that resulted in injuries on County Route 51 in Southampton. According to a report on Patch.com, Southampton town police said the car accident occurred early morning on Oct. 4. Officials said one of the drivers who was traveling north on County Route 51 crossed over the median and stopped in the southbound lane leading a vehicle traveling in that lane to strike the stopped vehicle.
The driver of the northbound vehicle, identified as 18-year-old Angel Camarillo, was arrested and charged with DWI, a misdemeanor, police said. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment and released. The other driver was injured, but the extent of those injuries is not clear. The investigation is ongoing.
Why DWI Amounts to Negligence (Carelessness)
Driving while intoxicated (DWI) in New York amounts to negligence (carelessness) as it violates both statutory law and the duty of care drivers owe to others on the road. Negligence in legal terms arises when a person fails to act with the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. When someone operates a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they are knowingly impairing their ability to drive safely, which directly endangers other motorists, pedestrians, passengers and others on the road.
New York law sets clear standards by prohibiting driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% for drivers, and even lower thresholds for commercial or underage drivers. By disregarding these legal limits, an intoxicated driver breaches the duty of care required to operate a vehicle responsibly. This breach is not just a technical violation — it significantly increases the risk of accidents, injuries and fatalities.
Because DWI involves breaking a safety statute, courts in New York often treat it as negligence per se, meaning the act itself is automatically considered negligent without requiring additional proof of recklessness. In essence, driving while intoxicated demonstrates a disregard for public safety, fulfilling the elements of negligence under state law.
The Impact of a DWI Crash
Victims of alcohol — or drug-related crashes often sustain severe and life-altering injuries due to the impaired driver’s inability to react safely. Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage and whiplash, which can result in long-term disability or paralysis. Broken bones, lacerations and internal bleeding frequently occur from the force of impact, while burn injuries may occur as a result of vehicle fires. Victims also suffer from emotional trauma such as anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder, which can persist long after physical wounds heal. These injuries not only cause immense pain but also lead to significant medical expenses, lost wages and diminished quality of life.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Injured victims of negligent (careless) drivers can seek compensation from at-fault parties for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families that have lost loved ones in car accidents can seek compensation for damages such as lost future income, medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, etc. You should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer before contacting your own insurance company.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident or pedestrian accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 54 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. We also recovered $1,500,000 for a lady who was hurt by a bus.
We also obtained $295,000 out of a $300,000 insurance policy in compensation for the victim of a bicycle dooring accident (where a car door opens into the path of a bicyclist). One of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases. Also, we got a $1,400,000 verdict in a motorcycle accident.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: https://patch.com/new-york/westhampton-hamptonbays/18-year-old-charged-dwi-after-2-car-crash-police