According to Suffolk County Police, a 35-year-old man was fatally wounded after being ejected from his vehicle due to the force of impact in a collision. The incident occurred on Jan. 18 around 1:20 a.m. in Brookhaven when the man lost control of his eastbound SUV and struck two other vehicles, a sedan and another SUV, traveling westbound on Montauk Highway.
The man driving the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene. The other two drivers and a passenger were transported to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center. They have all been released. The 35-year-old female driver of the other SUV involved was treated for minor injuries and charged with driving while intoxicated. An arraignment was expected at First District Court in Central Islip.
Police have impounded each of the involved vehicles to perform safety checks. It is possible that an auto defect in the male driver’s SUV is what caused him to initially lose control of the vehicle. Police have also asked for any witnesses who were present during the time of the collision to contact them with information. In a situation where alcohol has been a factor in a traffic fatality, a witness’s testimony may help police better understand what happened.
In a case like this one, if the family members of a deceased party hire a personal injury attorney to assist in building a case, the attorney might be able to successfully file a wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf. In many cases, an attorney will use a completed police report and outside information to determine who might have been at fault in a collision. An attorney might also seek a financial settlement with an insurance company to compensate the victim’s family members.
Source: CBS New York, “Long Island Woman Accused Of DWI Following Fatal Crash,” Jan. 18, 2015