Driver in Fatal Milwaukee DUI Crash Sentenced
On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, November 16, 2012.
One of the burdens that many survivors of fatal car accident victims must carry is the constant question of whether the crash could have been prevented. In the case of accidents caused by drunk driving, the answer is almost always yes. And knowing that a loved one died only due to the negligence of another person can make it difficult for family members to reach closure and move on with their own lives.
One milestone that can help, however, is the successful prosecution of the driver who caused the fatal accident. Recently a Milwaukee man who hit and killed a woman and her son was sentenced for his role in last year’s crash, which could help the victims’ family and friends cope with their unimaginable loss. The 41-year-old driver will spend 17 years in prison, followed by another 10 years of supervised release. Whereas many drunk drivers who kill someone only spend a few years in prison, the loved ones of the victims in this case can rest assured that the driver won’t be putting others at risk anytime soon.
The accident happened as the man was being chased by Milwaukee police. As he fled officers in his pickup truck, he crashed into a 49-year-old woman and her son, who was just 20. The driver then left his truck and tried to escape by jumping into the frigid waters of the Milwaukee River. With a blood alcohol level of .206, it’s not surprising that he didn’t remember the accident by the time he was arrested and questioned by police. Nevertheless, he pleaded guilty this summer to operating while intoxicated homicide charges.
Another step that could bring some closure to the victims’ family is the filing of a wrongful death lawsuit. A successful civil suit could not only compensate the family for the financial losses associated with the deaths, but award damages for pain and suffering. No one expects to have their loved ones taken in a senseless car accident, but effective legal action can help make the loss easier to handle in the long run. If you were hit by a drunk driver, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.
Source: WTAQ, “Drunk driver sentenced to 17 years in prison for fatal Milwaukee crash,” Nov. 2, 2012