Police said a man was arrested on suspicion of driving while ability impaired by drugs (DWAI) and alcohol on Nov. 15 following a car accident on the Long Island Expressway that left two people seriously injured. According to a News 12 report, Matthew Sheehy was driving a pickup truck eastbound on the Long Island Expressway 1,000 feet east of Nicolls Road when the pickup truck hit a disabled vehicle parked on the right shoulder. The vehicle that was hit then crossed the lanes of travel and was struck by another SUV.
Jonathan Thomas, the driver of the disabled vehicle that was struck, was transported to a hospital with serious injuries. A passenger in the third vehicle sustained critical injuries. Two other victims were treated and released from a community hospital. Sheehy was arrested and charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs and alcohol. The investigation is ongoing. Our thoughts and prayers are with those injured here and we wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
DWAI Laws in New York
Driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol is a serious offense under New York law, carrying strict penalties aimed at reducing such crashes and saving lives. The state enforces both Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI) charges, targeting alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both.
A DWI is charged when a driver’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is 0.08% or higher, or if the driver exhibits signs of impairment regardless of BAC. DWAI encompasses impairment by alcohol (BAC of 0.05%-0.07%), drugs, or a combination, even at lower intoxication levels. For commercial drivers, stricter limits apply, with a BAC threshold of 0.04%.
Drug-impaired driving, whether due to prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, or illegal substances, is aggressively prosecuted. Police use sobriety tests, Drug Recognition Experts (DREs), and toxicology reports to establish impairment. The consequences of impaired driving include license suspension or revocation, hefty fines, mandatory ignition interlock devices, and potential jail time. Repeat offenses may result in harsher penalties. Crashes caused by impaired drivers are a leading cause of fatalities in New York, underscoring the need for stringent enforcement.
Impaired Driving Constitutes Carelessness
Impaired driving is a clear example of negligent (careless) driving as it demonstrates a failure to exercise the care expected of a responsible driver. Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicating substances impairs judgment, reaction times and motor skills, putting others at significant risk.
Negligence (carelessness) in this context arises from the driver’s disregard for laws and the foreseeable dangers of impaired vehicle operation. This behavior often leads to accidents, injuries, or fatalities, as the impaired driver is less capable of responding to road conditions or avoiding hazards.
Courts and insurance companies view impaired driving as a breach of the duty of care owed to other road users. As a result, those injured in accidents caused by impaired drivers tend to secure compensation for damages.
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.
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 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. We 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. Also, 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.
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://longisland.news12.com/police-man-arrested-for-dwai-following-crash-on-lie-in-holtsville-2-people-injured