Western Pennsylvania has had its fair share of drunk driving accidents over the years. Statistically, injuries and fatalities during drunk driving accidents occur most often to the driver; however, far too many innocent victims are injured or killed as well. Drunk driving accidents that take a person's life are especially difficult to deal with because unlike most "accidents," drunk driving can be responsibly avoided.

A year ago this month, a promising young 18-year-old woman was killed while driving along Route in Sharpsburg just after 11 p.m. She was struck by a 28-year-old drunk driver who slammed into the back of her car, causing it to flip, and ejected the young woman from her vehicle, hurdling her several feet before landing on the cold concrete. She was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The driver who hit the young woman was suspected of drunk driving when the police arrived and neither he nor his two passengers were injured in the accident. Choosing not to initially file charges until they had clear-cut evidence of the driver's negligence, his time has now come and he is being charged with reckless driving, careless driving, drunk driving, involuntary manslaughter, and vehicular homicide, among other things.

When people are hurt or killed as the result of the negligence of a drunk driver, there are many issues to take into perspective. Someone who is hurt may file a personal injury lawsuit. The family of a person who is killed can file a wrongful death lawsuit. These types of lawsuits are obvious, but victims and their families can also go after the person or establishment that allowed the driver to overdrink and then leave the premises. Situations like this are known as social host or dram shop (tavern) laws. Allowing a person to continue imbibing after they are visibly drunk, then letting them leave can land a restaurant or bar in deep trouble.

If you have been drinking, please don't drive. Spending a night out with friends and enjoying yourself with a few drinks can go terribly wrong if you're not responsible enough to have a designated driver. There is never a reason to get behind the wheel if you've had too much to drink.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Cheswick man charged in fatal Route 28 crash" 17 February 2014