A fatal car accident in St. Joseph has led to involuntary manslaughter charges for the person who caused it. According to police, the driver was under the influence of the chemical Difluoroethane at the time of the crash. The incident highlights how personal injury law works when a car crash was caused by someone who was driving under the influence.
Man Huffs Dust Off and Causes Car Accident
The incident happened back on May 10, 2018. According to the police reports, a head-on collision happened on the Belt Highway, just south of its intersection with U.S. Highway 36.
The crash was so severe that one of the drivers died from the injuries he sustained in it.
According to the police, the driver of the other vehicle was intoxicated during the accident. Several cans of Dust Off were found in his car after the collision. He also could not recall what happened during the crash, or the rest of the day. Blood tests found the chemical Difluoroethane in his system—one of the chemicals used in Dust Off.
Recently, prosecutors have filed involuntary manslaughter charges against the driver, alleging that he was huffing Dust Off before the crash.
Personal Injury Lawsuits Against Intoxicated Drivers
Drunk and drugged driving are two of the biggest problems on the roads, today. Together, they kill thousands of Americans every year, and injure thousands more.
The lion’s share of media attention gets paid to the people who make the decision to drive while under the influence of something. This overlooks the victims that these accidents create. Many of these victims suffer life-threatening injuries that will change how they live for the rest of their lives.
Personal injury lawsuits aim to rectify this, as best as possible. While no one can turn back time to what things were like, before the crash, filing and winning a personal injury claim against the inebriated driver can compensate the victim for what they have suffered.
If the crash was caused by an intoxicated driver, victims have a very strong case for compensation. This is because personal injury law aims to make the negligent party pay for the costs of the accident. One way to prove that someone was acting negligently is to show that their conduct was breaking the law, as well. Breaking the law—whether it is Missouri’s law against drunk driving or just one of its traffic laws—is per se negligent, satisfying this core element of your personal injury claim.
St. Joseph Car Accident Attorneys at the Smith Law Office
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a car accident involving a drunk or drugged driver, the criminal case that the other driver will face will not help you overcome your injuries. Only filing a personal injury lawsuit will help to compensate you for what you have been put through.
Reach out to the personal injury attorneys at the Smith Law Office in St. Joseph. Contact us online or call us at (816) 875-9373.