What Happened:
A 17 year-old crashed in Raleigh, North Carolina Feb. 28, which killed the teenaged passenger, William Lee Tippett. The driver is being charged with felony death by vehicle and driving while impaired.
Also, the state Alcohol Law Enforcement Division has charged 12 other people in the case, including a 21-year old who was charged with 16 counts of aiding and abetting under-aged teens by purchasing 60 malt beverages the night of the wreck.
Eleven others under 18 have been charged with possessing alcohol and marijuana.
North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer Perspective:
Public advocacy campaigns have been effective in cutting down high school drinking and driving in the last 20 years, but it still happens more often than it should. This sad case shows the carnage that can happen when a teenager drinks and gets behind the wheel, and also what happens when an adult buys alcohol for people who are under 21. Buying alcohol for a minor is a serious crime and those who do so can face both criminal charges and civil lawsuits, if the worst happens and a teenager gets hurt behind the wheel after drinking.
If you or a loved one has been killed or injured by a drunk driver, or an adult bought alcoholic beverages for a teenager who then injured you or your loved one, you definitely should consult with an experienced North Carolina personal injury lawyer. Choosing a personal injury lawyer with a strong record in big dollar settlements of $100,000 or more for drunk driving victims is very important for you to receive justice in your case.
We hope that the victim’s family seeks justice in this case and gets the financial compensation that they deserve. It is possible that a strong personal injury lawyer could successfully sue both the driver of the car and the adult who purchased the alcohol for the teen.
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