While most people are aware of their mortality, they do not fully realize that even the most commonplace of activities could lead to serious injury or death. For example, even a simple walk to the store could unexpectedly be one’s last moment. The chance of a tragic end seems to be higher when there are drunk drivers on the road. In a similar incident, one Connecticut woman now faces criminal charges after an alleged drunk driving accident that resulted in a fatality.

In late December, a 36-year-old man was reportedly walking to a friend’s house from a convenience store. As he walked, police claim he was hit from behind by a car driven by a 60-year-old female. He died as a result of his injuries.

Police additionally claim that while the driver accused of hitting the victim initially stayed at the scene, she left after first responders arrived. She was later discovered at her house. Based on an interview with the accused, police determined that she had been drinking at the time of the accident. She now faces drunk driving charges related to the accident.

The loss of a loved one has an obvious impact on surviving family members. However, the financial ramifications are often not as apparent to those who haven’t gone through a similar experience. The family will face funeral costs, lost wages and other expenses as a result of the alleged drunk driving accident. In order to try to manage these expenses, the family of the deceased man has the option of filing a wrongful death case in a Connecticut civil court. If his family members can prove that the accident was caused by the woman’s negligence, the court could award them monetary damages for expenses resulting from the accident that are covered by law.

Source: NBC Connecticut, Driver Accused of Hitting Pedestrian Charged with DUI, No author, Dec. 23, 2013