Carlos Santiago, a Queens tow truck driver, was struck and killed on the Long Island Expressway early morning on Oct. 8 in a crash involving two moving vehicles and a stalled car that he was trying to hitch to the back of his rig. According to a report in the New York Daily News, the allegedly drunk driver of a sedan that caused the car accident involving three vehicles, was arrested on vehicular manslaughter charges.
Fatality and Injuries
Police said Santiago, a father of three from Howard Beach who worked for a
towing company, arrived to help with a disabled vehicle on the right shoulder of the Manhattan-bound side of the Long Island Expressway near Elmhurst. As Santiago tried to link his truck to the disabled vehicle, a motorist ¬— who police later identified as Denzel Porter — lost control of his vehicle in the right lane and careened into an SUV in the center lane.
The impact sent the SUV into Santiago who was standing next to his tow truck, police said. Another driver was also injured in the incident. Both men were transported to an area hospital where Santiago died from his injuries. The other driver suffered severe leg injuries, but is expected to survive. Four others, including Porter, suffered relatively minor injuries, officials said. He has been charged with vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, vehicular assault and driving while ability impaired. We offer our deepest condolences to Santiago’s family and wish the injured victims the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Negligent (Careless) and Impaired Driving
New York laws make it illegal to drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. It is against the law to drive with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher. For commercial drivers such as bus drivers or truck drivers, that legal limit is 0.04%.
There is no question that impaired driving is also negligent (careless) driving. In order to receive compensation for a DUI car accident claim, the plaintiff (victim) must prove that the defendant was negligent or careless. If you have been injured by an impaired driver, your New York car accident lawyer can help you with your case by securing crucial evidence such as police reports to show that the other driver was operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
Alcohol and/or drugs can impair a driver’s decision-making skills and coordination. An impaired driver lacks the ability to quickly avoid an accident or perform routine driving maneuvers that help prevent a crash. Drunk drivers endanger themselves and everyone on the road, increasing the risk of car accidents and deaths. DUI collisions have the potential to result in major injuries including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord trauma, broken bones, internal organ damage, etc.
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.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
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 51 years, our skilled attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims. 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. 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 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.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-tow-truck-operator-dies-queens-20221008-v2324beql5fw5aivynrcauvjba-story.html