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Drunk Driving Accident Kills 1, Injures 2

An accident in the Las Vegas area claimed the life of one person and left two others in the hospital receiving treatment for their injuries. Thankfully, the other two victims of this recent crash are expected to survive.

According to local authorities, the driver of one pickup truck ran head-on to another pickup traveling in the opposite direction on a two-way street, leaving both vehicles extensively damaged. Police say the driver responsible for the accident crossed out of his lane in to the oncoming vehicle's path. Police suspect the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The man whom officers suspected of driving drunk died after being transported to the hospital. However, his acted injured a young woman and a toddler who were in the other vehicle. They both also were taken to local hospitals, and the extent of their injuries is not known.

This accident raises an important legal question for Nevada residents in that they might wonder what they can do if a negligent driver injures them in a crash but dies as a result of the car accident. Simply put, the victims can still pursue compensation in such cases, but will have to do so by filing a claim against the legal estate of the driver. They may have to even open an estate in order to do so.

In any event, this is just the latest illustration of how serious drunk driving accidents can be and how important it is for people either to driver sober or designate a driver after a night on the town. Those who choose not to be responsible in this way may face not only criminal allegations but also civil lawsuits.

Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal, "DUI suspected in fatal North Las Vegas crash," Max Michor, Jan. 3, 2018.