There may not be a more senseless accident than one caused by a drunk driver. People who get behind the wheel when they are intoxicated are making a deliberate decision to put themselves and other people on the road in danger. When a person is hurt or killed in a drunk driving accident, they have the right to hold the reckless motorist accountable for their decisions.

A driver who is intoxicated is often physically affected by the alcohol. Their vision is impaired, their reflexes are delayed and their decision-making capabilities suffer significantly. Together, these conditions make a driver very dangerous and unpredictable behind the wheel. In an accident, these physical impairments often exacerbate the type of damage that is done.

Recently, an accident turned tragic when a North Carolina man and his son were hit by an alleged drunk driver. According to reports, a 47-year-old man was driving in Henderson in the early afternoon when he apparently lost control of his vehicle. The car hit a telephone pole and the victims before finally coming to a stop. The father was seriously injured in the accident, and his 5-year-old son was sadly killed.

The driver is facing criminal charges, including felony death by motor vehicle, driving with a revoked license and driving while impaired. For the father and his family, these charges may be of little consolation. While nothing can undo the devastating events that took place, the family may decide to also pursue a civil claim against the driver. They have likely had to deal with medical bills, funeral costs and other unanticipated costs that can make it more difficult to grieve and move forward. In similar cases, victims and their families have been awarded compensation for these and other damages resulting from a drunk driving accident.

Source: My Fox 8, "NC man charged with DWI in death of 5-year-old boy," Joe Borlik, Jan. 28, 2013