Last month, Andres Guzman, Joel Rodriguez, and Jesus Molina were riding in their Acura down Chandler Street, in Worcester Massachusetts. Suddenly another car barreled down the road and crashed into the car carrying the three teens. Guzman and Rodriguez were killed, while Molina was rushed to the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, in critical condition.
Mystery surrounded the accident until the Worcester Police Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team located the driver of the other car – who had left the scene of the accident after speaking with paramedics. According to police, the driver had been transferred to Memorial Medical after alleging he had been injured in a bar fight. Authorities arraigned the driver while he was still in the hospital. The driver, who reportedly drove between 80 to 100 miles per hour, stands charged with a number of charges including, two counts of motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, leaving the scene of an accident causing personal injury, speeding and driving with a suspended license.
Preliminary investigations of the accident indicated that the driver has a history of driving infractions dating back to 2005. In the first nine months of 2009, he received four speeding tickets. At the time of the fatal November 2011 accident, his driver’s license had been suspended; however, he did not have any prior criminal convictions.
Liability for Negligent Driving
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, tens of thousands of people are killed each year on our nation’s roadways. Many of these deaths were the result of negligent behavior, such as speeding and alcohol impairment. Many states have laws which allow claims against a person whose negligence causes a death.
Wrongful death actions are governed by complex statutes, which can involve complicated litigation. Issues of fault, insurance liability coverage, expert witness evaluations and detailed investigations are all crucial elements to these cases. A victim’s family can seek recovery for medical expenses and for the loss of their loved one.
