On May 13, an accident that occurred on U.S. 119 in West Virginia caused four people to become seriously injured. Authorities stated that one of the vehicles that was involved in the crash appeared to be stolen.

The crash occurred at the Fountain Way intersection in Logan. The driver of the stolen vehicle reportedly slammed into one car that had three people in it before sideswiping two other cars. He then hit the southbound lane guardrail. The three occupants of the other vehicle and the driver of the stolen vehicle were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of injuries that were considered to be serious. The following day, the driver who caused the crash was taken to into custody. He was being held at Southwestern Regional Jail. He was charged with DUI with injuries, possession of marijuana, transporting stolen property across state lines and probation violation.

There is always the risk of becoming involved in car accidents that are caused by drunk drivers. If an accident does occur, those who are involved could suffer serious injuries that include back and neck pain, broken bones and traumatic brain injuries. Depending on how severe these injuries are, victims could potentially be hospitalized for weeks or even months. In some cases, they may not be able to work again and may have a lower quality of life.

An attorney can often be of assistance to a victim of such an accident in seeking compensation from the impaired driver through a personal injury lawsuit. Such a civil action could be successful even if the driver is acquitted of criminal charges due to the lower burden of proof required of a civil plaintiff than of a criminal prosecutor.

Source: WSAZ, “UPDATE: Crash sends four to hospital in Logan; driver facing charges“, May 14, 2016