More than five weeks after she allegedly caused a December head-on car collision near Wilton, a 51-year-old Cos Cob woman has surrendered to police.

The woman was charged with driving under the influence and failure to drive right.

According to Wilton police, the car accident occurred when the woman was driving a 1998 Honda Accord northbound on Route 7 and crossed over double yellow lines to collide with a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado. Both the 49-year-old pickup truck driver and his female passenger sustained injuries and were taken to Norwalk Hospital for treatment.

Wilton police believe the accused was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. A warrant for her arrest stipulated she had a 0.10 blood alcohol content at the time of the accident.

Although the injured parties in this car accident may not have sustained life-threatening injuries, drunken-driving accidents kill and critically injure thousands of people each year. In the event of a car accident, an alleged drunk driver should be considered both criminally and civilly negligent, particularly if his or her BAC exceeds the state’s legal limit.

In Connecticut, BAC readings above 0.08 mean a driver is impaired; driving with such a reading constitutes driving under the influence, and a driver could face a drunken-driving charge. If driving under the influence causes a car accident, then the driver almost certainly can expect criminal charges.

The physical injuries caused by a drunken-driving crash can be emotionally and financially difficult for victims with the cost of medical treatment rehabilitation and lost wages often creating profound financial pressure on a household. Fortunately, filing a personal injury lawsuit against the drunken driver is possible. Information derived from a police investigation and any subsequent criminal action can be used to bolster a civil lawsuit and enhance the chance of success.

Source: Patch, “Woman Charged with DUI After Investigation into December Head-On Collision,” Leslie Yager, Jan. 21, 2014