As we discussed last week, New York laws are not easy on drunk drivers. Even a first-time offender can face serious consequences. And when drunk driving leads to an accident that causes injury or death, the charges can be much more severe. This is exactly what happened recently when a man from Long Island got involved in a serious crash.

The man was driving down Sunrise Highway last Monday when he rear-ended a car in front of him. The impact caused the man’s car to roll multiple times. Unfortunately, he had multiple passengers in the car with him when the crash occurred.

Although one passenger sustained only minor injuries, a second passenger was seriously injured in the collision. He was in critical condition after the crash. Sadly, the driver’s grandfather was thrown from the car during the crash. He died immediately. Now, the driver is facing charges of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and driving while intoxicated.

No one ever means to cause a car accident like this one. And having to cope with the loss of a loved one on top of dealing with charges for drunk driving can be extremely overwhelming for anyone. Having to live with the death of a loved one is often punishment enough. Unfortunately, the law doesn’t see it that way. Because of this, it is very important to understand your rights when facing serious criminal charges like drunk driving or vehicular manslaughter. Because the laws can be complex, it may be helpful to work with a criminal defense attorney.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, “LI man charged with DWI in fatal crash,” July 23, 2013