Drunk Driving Accident Can Still Mar New Year’s Celebrations

New Year’s Eve is frequently referred to as amateur night. While it is never a good idea to get behind the wheel of a car when one has been drinking, it seems that more people do just that on New Year’s Eve more often than at other times. In spite of the attempts of ride apps, sobriety check points and other safe driving efforts, the problem of deaths caused by a drunk driving accident continues to be a significant problem in New Jersey and around the country.

At about 1 a.m. on January 1, a woman was struck and killed by an allegedly drunk driver. The accident occurred on the northbound side of Interstate 676, according to police reports. The victim had exited her car for unknown reasons and was on the shoulder near the exit for Atlantic Avenue.

The driver who reportedly struck the pedestrian had three passengers in her car. None of them were reported to have sustained any injuries. The driver remained at the scene of the accident. She faces charges of vehicular homicide and driving with a suspended license. The accident remains under investigation.

The sudden death of a loved one is never easy to bear. When that death is the result of a drunk driving accident that could have been prevented, loved ones left behind can file a wrongful death civil suit against the party found to be responsible for the tragedy. A successfully litigated claim can result in compensation for end-of-life costs and other monetary damages. Families may wish to enlist the aid of a New Jersey personal injury attorney to initiate the process.