A man who officials say was driving 97 mph when he caused a deadly car accident in Queens, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter, drunk driving and other crimes. According to a report in the New York Daily News, the 22-year-old Albany man was arraigned in court on the charges in connection with the crash that occurred early morning on Nov. 20. The victim, a 52-year-old New Jersey man, was fatally injured in the two-car collision.
Several Violations of the Law
Police said the older man was driving to work at a Queens hospital when the other driver’s car barreled through a red light and smashed into his. Police say a Breathalyzer test showed the driver’s blood alcohol level at over 0.08, which is the legal limit for impaired driving. In a statement, prosecutors accused the defendant of getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol and “criminally disregarding the rules of the road with tragic, deadly results.” We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the deceased victim.
Excessive Speed and Impaired Driving
Both impaired driving and excessive speed have the potential to cause car 
accidents that result in catastrophic injuries or death. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding endangers everyone on the road. In 2018, speeding killed 9,378 people. For more than two decades, speeding has been involved in about one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities. In 2017, speeding was a contributing factor in 26% of all traffic fatalities. Some situations – such as driving in inclement weather or on a road that is under repair – may be unsafe even when observing posted speed limits and require slowing down further.
NHTSA says that even though DUI-related deaths have decreased over the past three decades, they still account for more than 10,000 lives each year. In 2017 alone, 10,874 people died in alcohol-impaired crashes, which is 29% of all traffic fatalities. Alcohol has the ability to impair a driver’s decision-making skills as well as coordination. A driver who is operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs may lack the ability to quickly and decisively avoid an accident or even perform routine maneuvers. When a driver is both impaired and speeding, that may become a lethal combination.
Reckless or negligent (careless) driving is the most common cause of car accidents in New York City and frequently results in major injuries, long-term disabilities as well as fatalities. Drivers who speed, or drive while distracted and/or impaired, drivers who fail to yield the right of way or run red lights and stop signs pose a definite danger to other road users. Such drivers tend to cause not just vehicle-related accidents, but also pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
A victim who has been injured by a negligent (careless) driver may be able to seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families that have lost a loved one may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages as well.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a vehicle-related 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 49 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 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 and medical malpractice 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.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-charged-with-manslaughter-in-high-speed-crash-that-killed-nyc-hospital-worker/2739629/