Drunk Driver Car Accident In New York Injures 5

In an alleged drunk driver car accident in New York, the driver of the car jumped a curb, traveled approximately half a city block down a sidewalk until smashing into the storefront of a grocery store. Five people were injured in the accident, and there was extensive property damage. The injured were standing outside the shop when the car plowed through.

The driver of the car lost control of the vehicle as it was traveling at relatively high speeds. The car jumped the curb and began careening down the sidewalk, leaving a trail of broken glass, mangled bicycles and other damage in its wake. The car destroyed a sidewalk flower stand, leaving an employee of the stand with what firefighters at the scene described as “life threatening” injuries.

Driver taken into police custody

The 32-year-old Queens resident who was driving the car, Shaun Martin, refused a breathalyzer test after the accident. Police at the scene believe Martin was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time and took him into custody because he refused the breathalyzer test. Martin was taken to Bellevue hospital for treatment of a head laceration. At the hospital, police found drugs tucked in Martin’s sock. They also discovered Martin has prior drunken driving arrests.

Victims were taken to the local hospital and all were  in stable condition except for the 60-year-old employee of the flower shop who was described as “critical.” One witness said he saw the victim lying on the sidewalk after the accident, with blood coming from the head and what looked like two broken legs. The car apparently hit the victim head-on, according to other witnesses at the scene.

Compensation after a drunk driver car accident in New York

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 10,000 individuals were killed in motor vehicle accidents involving alcohol impairment in 2010. That number made up nearly one-third of all traffic related deaths in the United States. During that same year, 1.4 million drivers were arrested for DUI or DWI in this country.

For victims of these accidents, like those harmed in this incident, there is legal help available. By contacting NY personal injury lawyers shortly after the accident occurs, victims can see that the drivers responsible for their injuries get the legal consequences they deserve. Victims can also pursue compensation for their injuries, suffering, lost wages, and cost of medical treatment.

In New York, first-time DWI offenders receive a one-year license suspension, while repeat offenders may get longer suspensions as well as jail time or community service. If an injury or death occurred as a result of the accident, the crime moves from a misdemeanor to a felony, which can carry even more penalties. Victims of such accidents can also pursue civil cases against the responsible driver in hopes of receiving financial compensation for their injuries.

Consult NY personal injury lawyers

The Sanders Firm has decades of experience helping New York victims of car accidents get the legal compensation to which they are entitled. This professional team works with clients in Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Long Island and Manhattan to protect their rights and pursue maximum monetary damages. We understand the challenges facing car accident victims, and work hard to make the legal process easy to understand and as efficient as possible.

If you have been the victim of a drunk driver car accident in New York, contact the Sanders Firm for a free consultation. Our professionals are ready to provide you with the assistance you need to get your life back on track. Call today at 1.800.FAIR.PLAY (800.324.7752).