HOLIDAY DUIS PUT TROY RESIDENTS IN DANGER

The holiday season can present increased risks to all Troy residents who use the public roadways. Holiday parties, dinners, family gatherings, and other events can all increase the number of drunk drivers on the road. This endangers drivers, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians alike. A Troy car accident lawyer can help victims access all forms of compensation that may be available to them after a car accident.

How Troy Residents Are Affected By Drunk Driving

Troy residents had an alarmingly close call when police arrested the driver of a FedEx semi-truck. According to Click On Detroit, the driver denied drinking alcohol, despite the fact that officers could smell alcohol, and found two open containers in the vehicle. He performed poorly on sobriety tests and his preliminary breath test was .21 - well over the legal limit. Only coincidence prevented the truck driver from causing serious injuries. A heavy vehicle, like his loaded semi-truck, could have caused severe injuries in a collision.

Intoxication can also cause drivers to intentionally take risks they would otherwise see as dangerous. This is what happened in a drag race reported by Click On Detroit. When two vehicles slowed down, but surrounding traffic did not an F-150 rear-ended a Mazda, killing the passenger inside. Police are investigating the extent to which intoxication and drag racing played a role in the collision.

Unfortunately, drunk driving is a recurring problem for some drivers. According to The Patch, a Troy man was arrested and charged with fleeing the scene of an accident after crashing his vehicle. His breath tests were .21 and .23 - both well above Michigan’s legal limit of .08. Further investigation revealed that the man had two prior drunk driving convictions and that his driver’s license had been suspended.

Car accidents are not the only negative consequence of drunk driving. The Patch reports that a McDonald’s worker was assaulted by a drunk driver who attempted to grab her through the drive-thru window. Police eventually traced him to his home, where the man admitted to getting food at the McDonald’s but denied assaulting the employee. He refused to take a preliminary breath test. Police arrested him, and the driver has been charged with a third offense of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

Troy Drunk Driving Victims Have Legal Rights

Because drunk driving is a criminal offense, victims are afforded rights under state law. The William Van Regenmorter Crime Victim’s Rights Act codified many important rights for victims of crimes in Michigan. These include the right to restitution for financial losses incurred as a result of the crime. In addition to these rights as a crime victim, a drunk driving victim also has remedies through the civil court system. A civil lawsuit may also be filed in order to recover compensation for the financial losses an injury victim incurs as a result of a drunk driving accident. Contact a Troy car accident lawyer as soon as possible after any traffic accident. Drunk driving victims have important legal rights which must be asserted.