We all feel a tiny inkling of fear when driving past a left turning vehicle. One always wonders if that driver will wait patiently until we pass before making that left turn in front of oncoming traffic. Sometimes drivers are impatient, and they turn giving themselves just enough time to skirt across the roadway before the fast traveling vehicles reach the intersection. In some instances, tragically, those drivers are not so lucky. Bad decisions like making an untimely left turn in front of coming traffic are more likely to occur when alcohol is involved. According to Montville, Connecticut authorities, alcohol may be the exact reason a similar incident occurred only days ago. The potential drunk driving accident left one man of Oakdale, Connecticut with incapacitating injuries.
The 50 year-old-man was driving his motorcycle at the time on I-395. A Jeep was attempted to turn left onto the southbound ramp of I-395 as the motorcycle approached. When the driver of the Jeep turned, he collided with the motorcycle. The incident resulted in serious injuries to the Motorcyclist who was thrown from his vehicle. The Jeep then fled from the scene. What happened next is why authorities are now saying the Oakdale man was hit by a drunk driver.
Police found the Jeep driver shortly after he fled the scene. The 21-year-old man had not been injured in the accident. Police arrested him at that time for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
While this accident does remain under investigation, if the Jeep driver was under the influence at the time of the crash, he was a negligent driver. In personal injury law, any individual who fails to abide by the law and in so doing injuries another is likely negligent. The injured cyclist may bring a civil suit against the man to recover for his hospital bills, wage loss and pain and suffering.
Source: The Lymes Patch, “Police Blotter: Motorcycle Crash Allegedly Caused by Drunk Driver,” Jayne Keedle, Sept. 4, 2012
