Tragedy can ensue when a truck driver gets behind the wheel while impaired by alcohol or other substances. Recently, here in Texas, a fatal truck accident occurred in which allegations of intoxicated driving have been leveled.
The crash happened in Houston on Sunday. That night, a 48-year-old man was driving an SUV along Cook Road. According to authorities, at this road’s intersection with Beechnut, the man’s SUV hit a turning big rig that had failed to obey a red light. The big rig was being driven by a 42-year-old man and it did not have a trailer attached.
After being taken to a hospital, the 48-year-old man died from injuries he suffered in the accident.
Authorities allege that the 42-year-old man was intoxicated at the time of the crash. According to the article on the Houston Chronicle’s website which reported on this story, authorities have charged this man with intoxication manslaughter.
In addition to authorities being able to bring criminal charges, another thing that may be able to occur when a truck driver causes someone else’s death by having gotten behind the wheel when intoxicated is that the victim’s family may be able to bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver. Experienced truck accident attorneys can help the families of individuals who have been killed in truck accidents figure out whether intoxicated driving or other misconduct by a truck driver contributed to the accident and whether bringing a wrongful death lawsuit is an option that is available to them.
Source: The Houston Chronicle, “Big-rig driver faces DUI charges in fatal Houston crash,” Dale Lezon, April 7, 2014
