17-Year-Old Drunk Driver Kills Passenger | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

What Happened

Police have determined that alcohol and speed were factors in horrific wreck on February 16, 2013 in Johnston County, North Carolina (NC). The crash occurred on westbound Josephine Road, just south of Clayton.

The driver of the vehicle was 17-years-old and police estimate he was going 85 mph in a 45 mph zone. When the truck entered a curve the young driver lost control, went off the road, and flipped several times. The impact was so hard the truck was completely demolished. Toxicology reports show that the teens had been drinking and were drunk at the time of the accident.

An 18-year-old passenger was not wearing his seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead on the scene. A 16-year-old passenger, as well as the 17-year-old driver were taken to WakeMed in Raleigh and were later released.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine how the teens got the alcohol.

The North Carolina Wrongful Death Lawyers’ Perspective

This is a very tragic accident, as a father I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child to such negligence. It’s hard for young drivers to fully understand the dangers of driving, and the excitement and sense of freedom they feel behind the wheel leads them to drive recklessly. Add in the unfortunate circumstance where a young driver has been drinking and it spells disaster every time. Sadly, drunk drivers are the cause of a staggering one-in-three fatal car accidents in the United States. When a loved one dies in a drunk driving crash, it can be difficult to know where to turn for answers, peace of mind or justice. When choosing a lawyer remember that wrongful death proceedings are more complicated and need to be documented differently than ordinary automobile accidents. It is very important to choose and experienced North Carolina (NC) wrongful death attorney. At our firm we will thoroughly investigate the entire driving record of the defendant. We also look at criminal records, police reports, medical records and eyewitness accounts, if available, to build a strong case on your behalf. We also contact accounting professionals to determine projected lifetime earning losses. No amount of money can justify the pain but you deserve to be fully compensated for the loss of your loved one.

Potentially Helpful Info

If a loved one was killed in an automobile accident due to another person’s negligence or recklessness, consider downloading this free report written by experienced North Carolina (NC) wrongful death attorneys to begin learning about your legal rights and options for filing claims for compensation.

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