Intoxicated Teen Driver Causes Kentucky Single-Car Accident

A very tragic car accident claimed the life of a nine-month-old infant on Saturday in Carroll County. Two teens and one adult were in a car with the infant. The driver was only 17 years old. According to the Kentucky State Police, the teen driver ran off the road at a curve and hit a tree. The infant was killed and the other two passengers were taken by helicopter to University Hospital in Louisville with very serious injuries. The driver was not injured.

There are so many factors that could have prevented this horrible accident. First, the driver of the car had no driver’s license or insurance, so he should have never been behind the wheel of a car in the first place. Second, he was drunk when the accident occurred, which is doubly concerning since the crash happened at 9:15 in the morning. Third, the only person allegedly wearing a seatbelt was the driver. No one else, including the infant, was properly restrained in the car.

Needless to say, all of these young lives have been changed forever. If the passengers survive, the one who was the mother of the infant will have to live with the fact that she got in a car with a drunk driver and did not put her infant in a car seat. The other passenger may likely have lifelong issues from his injuries because he decided to ride with an unlicensed drunk driver. The driver of the car faces a laundry list of charges including driving without a license, driving under the influence, wanton endangerment and manslaughter. Even though he is only 17, he may be tried as an adult, which makes all of the charges more serious with stiffer penalties. Now he is need of assistance from a solid defense attorney, like the Orlando criminal defense lawyers.

Even though all of the people involved made bad choices, one can’t help but feel bad for what they and their families have gone through already and what they will continue to go through in the upcoming days and months. If you have teenage children, please remind them of the dangers of riding with an inexperienced or intoxicated driver. As seen in the above accident, a combination of the two can be deadly. And reiterate the importance of wearing a seatbelt, even it isn’t cool and no one else is wearing theirs. It could save their lives.

Man Who Killed Girl in Kentucky Hit-and-Run Accident Sentenced to 15 Years

A tragic car accident took the life of a 13-year-old Kentucky girl in March 2010. She was walking along a road near Philpot, Kentucky around dinner time. An SUV hit her from behind and she sustained critical injuries. The story would be bad enough if it ended there, but it gets worse.

The man who hit her fled the scene, making the crash a hit-and-run accident. He proceeded to wash his car and even created a one-car accident with it two days later to cover up the evidence. So not only did he not stay to help the child that he hit, he also tried to pretend that he was not at fault by tampering with the evidence.

The victim unfortunately died four days later at Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. Would she have survived if the man who hit her stopped to help instead of running away to hide his guilt? No one will ever know. What is known is that the driver was charged with three class D felonies, reckless homicide, leaving the scene of an injury accident, and tampering with evidence. After being found guilty on all charges by a jury, on March 27, 2012, he was sentenced to five years in prison for each count, making a total of 15 years that he should remain behind bars. Throughout the entire process, the driver never took responsibility for his actions or showed any remorse.

For the family of the victim, it is at least fortunate that the guilty driver was found and justice was done. It is often difficult to locate the driver who caused a hit-and-run accident. How they proceed next is up to them, but if they have filed, or decide to file, a wrongful death lawsuit, they would most likely be awarded financial damages. This money would never replace the child they lost, nor is it meant to, but it may provide assistance in paying the medical bills and funeral costs they incurred. It may also help them to support any surviving children they may have and give them peace of mind financially so they can grieve and hopefully heal.

It is important in a situation such as this to find the right Injury Law Firm. Not only do you need someone that is experienced, but you also need someone who is compassionate when dealing with grieving families and professional when working with the insurance companies, other attorneys, and the court personnel that may be ultimately involved in the case. We are experienced in helping families through difficult times and is knowledgeable in all aspects of personal injury law.