A man who killed a couple while driving under the influence of alcohol in Virginia Beach, VA, ended up in jail. The family of the people killed by his actions got only $200,000 after settling a lawsuit over the wrongful deaths. Christopher Dockiewicz, was convicted of driving under the influence and of two counts of aggravated involuntary manslaughter following the January 2010 crash that claimed the lives of an English couple, Anthony and Jean Tonking, the Virginian-Pilot reported.
The accident occurred in Princess Anne Road. Dockiewicz was en route to picking up his son from school when he crashed into the Tonkings’ vehicle at a speed of at least 77 mph, according to police evidence. His blood-alcohol level was almost twice the legal limit for driving, the newspaperreported.
The Tonkings’ daughter filed two wrongful-death suits in circuit court. Dockiewicz and his insurance company, USAA Casualty Insurance Company, agreed to pay $100,000 in each case. This relatively small sum seems unfair but is likely the extent of the automobile accident policy of the drunk driver.
As experienced Virginia Beach-based accident injury attorneys, my colleagues and I see too many cases in which drunken drivers cause injuries or even deaths. We recently reported how a drunken driver from Virginia, VA received a sentence of 7-21 years for causing an accident in New York State that resulted in the death of a man.
Even when accident victims survive, their lives may never be the same again. Earlier this year we reported on how fundraisers were being held for a teacher from Newport News, VA, who has long-term care needs after she was hit by a 17-year-old driver who was charged with DUI offenses.
Our lawyers don’t defend drunk drivers. We sue them. This year one f our clients, a 9-year-old boy from Virginia Beach, received a confidential settlement related to an October 2009 accident in which a drunk driver charged with her second DUI offense.
This article explains how to recover damages from drunk drivers and the rights of victims.
DM