The holidays are well known for being one of the times of the year when people often drink and drive. New Year’s Eve revelry has come and gone, but there is always the chance of getting hurt by a drunk driver. This danger can increase during Massachusetts’ cold winter months when drinking and driving and slippery roads create a deadly combination.
This past December, two separate drunk driving accidents turned tragic in Yarmouth. According to authorities, at about 1:30 in the morning on December 27 the driver of one car appeared to have hit a boulder and went airborne. The man’s 28-year-old passenger was ejected from the car and killed. Police found alcohol in the vehicle, and the driver faces motor vehicle manslaughter charges.
In the second accident, a 55-year-old man reportedly hit two people walking on Route 28 near midnight. One pedestrian was killed, while his companion was seriously injured but was expected to survive. After a field sobriety test, the driver was arrested and faces DUI and motor vehicle homicide charges.
Fatal accidents are devastating for the family left behind who have to pick up the pieces, particularly when the accident was preventable, as in the case of drunk driving. Often, they have medical bills and funeral expenses to worry about, as well as additional hardship if their lost family member provided a source of income. Receiving compensation for the accident will not bring back lost loved ones, but can help to provide a sense of closure as well as to relieve financial burdens.
Source: Boston.com, “Second Yarmouth Drunk Driving Crash in 24 Hours Kills Another,” Shannon McMahon, Dec. 28, 2014