WOODMERE, Long Island, N.Y. — Nassau County Police arrested a 20-year-old man from Long Island and charged him with the offense of driving while intoxicated after losing control over his car and crashing into a building. According to the Daily Voice, Nassau County Police received a 911 call at 1:24 a.m. for a report of […]
Drunk Driver Crashes into Building
WOODMERE, Long Island, N.Y. — Nassau County Police arrested a 20-year-old man from Long Island and charged him with the offense of driving while intoxicated after losing control over his car and crashing into a building. According to the Daily Voice, Nassau County Police received a 911 call at 1:24 a.m. for a report of a car that crashed into a building at 945 Broadway and Neptune Avenue. Upon arrival, officers found a 2016 Toyota that had slammed into the red-brick building. Officers saw the driver sitting on the curb next to the wrecked car. The officers reported that the 20-year-old man from Woodmere had slurred speech, which emitted a strong smell of an alcoholic beverage and also had glassy, bloodshot, and watery eyes. Officers placed him under arrest and brought him to the hospital for evaluation.
Fortunately, the driver who crashed into the building did not have a passenger riding with him. Every motor vehicle operator must drive carefully, so their passengers are not injured or killed in accidents caused by their wrongdoing. If a passenger is hurt in a crash and the driver of the car in which the passenger rode is responsible for the crash, then the driver’s insurance must indemnify the passenger for injuries. Also, the driver’s auto insurer is liable to pay damages to the estate of a person killed in a crash caused by the driver operating the car in which the person who died was riding.
The injured passenger is not limited to filing a claim against one driver. The passenger can file a legal claim for damages against both for injuries. Similarly, the estate of a passenger killed in a crash may file a wrongful death claim against both drivers if they were negligent and caused the fatal collision.
An injured passenger is not always blameless. A passenger’s claim for damages could be denied if the passenger disregarded his or her wellbeing, such as getting in a car with a person whom the passenger knows is intoxicated.
