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Fatal crash leads to proposed legislation

On Behalf of | Mar 21, 2018 | Motor Vehicle Accidents

If a proposed law passes, motorists in Brooklyn and throughout New York state could lose their driving privileges if they have an ailing impairment. Doctors would be required to report the impairment to the state, which could then move to have that person’s license suspended. While doctors have the right to report such ailments to the DMV today, they have no obligation to do so.

The legislation was proposed after a woman who experiences seizures and heart issues caused an accident that killed two small children. Furthermore, lawmakers were looking to increase vehicle registration suspension penalties for multiple violations of regulations related to traffic control signals. The car that the woman who caused the crash had been driving had been cited 12 times since 2016. Under the newly proposed legislation, the woman’s vehicle would have had its registration suspended for 90 days.

If an individual is killed in a car accident, the driver who caused the crash may face both civil and criminal charges. In a civil case, it is generally necessary to show that a driver was negligent in causing an accident that resulted in death to occur. If that happens, the family of the deceased may be entitled to various forms of compensation either through a negotiated settlement or after a jury trial.

Compensation may help to pay for funeral and burial expenses. If the decedent was the breadwinner, damages could also include an amount equal to the estimated future contributions that would have been made to the household budget. An attorney may review a case to determine if negligence played a role in the accident. Drivers who had medical conditions such as seizures may be negligent as they generally know or should know that their condition could make it impossible to drive safely.

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