A man whom police now suspect was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs set off a fiery crash which left 2 other people in another vehicle injured. Police described the condition of the 2 victims as stable, and the man who caused the accident suffered minor injuries. The man now faces criminal charges.
According to police, the driver of a pickup slammed into the back of 1956 Chevy. The car, which obviously not equipped with more modern safety features, burst into flames upon impact. The driver of the pickup continued to drive and also ran into a fire station. The incident was caught on video.
There is simply no excuse for drunk or drugged driving
While the exact nature of their injuries is not known, the victims may be entitled to recover items like medical bills, expenses related to ongoing treatment and care, and lost wages from the driver.
Punitive damages may also be available after a drunk driving accident, since, after all, people should know by now that drunk driving is dangerous.
While punitive damages can go a long way toward making a victim whole, there are limits on the dollar amount a person can receive from punitive damages. Moreover, they are not available in all circumstances. A victim should review the circumstances of his or her case with an attorney.
There are options for recovery after a drunk driving accident
Unfortunately, many drunk drivers do not carry insurance at all. If they do, it may not be nearly enough to pay all of the compensation that victims are owed. Victims have to look to their own insurance companies for additional compensation.
In other cases, they may be able to hold a bar or other establishment financially responsible under New Jersey’s Dram Shop laws.