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While there are criminal penalties in Georgia for driving while intoxicated and causing injury to another, these criminal penalties rarely do much for the victims. When a victim of a DUI accident is hurt, they have certain rights guaranteed to them by law. They may file a lawsuit against the drunk driver. In such a civil suit, the victim is entitled to try and be compensated for medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The victim may also be entitled to punitive damages. Georgia has no cap on these damages in a DUI car accident.
The Norcross Patch reports on a man arrested after the man he hit in a DUI crash was declared brain dead.
The accident happened at around 3 a.m. on Sunday, March 17th.
Based on the preliminary investigation, 31-year-old Diego Romero of Lawrenceville was heading westbound on Jimmy Carter Blvd and approaching the intersection with Singleton Road.
37-year-old Manuel Esteves-Sabino was stopped at the traffic light at the intersection of Jimmy Carter westbound at Singleton Road. He was in the center lane. As Romero approached the intersection, he attempted to move into the center lane. He rear-ended Esteves-Sabino’s vehicle, causing both cars to rotate and come to rest in the southbound lanes of Singleton Road.
Both Esteves-Sabino and Romero were seriously injured and taken to the hospital.
Initially, Romero was charged with reckless driving, DUI, serious injury by vehicle, and following too closely. However, when Esteves-Sabino was declared brain dead the Monday after the accident, the charges were upgraded. Romero is now facing charges of homicide by vehicle and DUI.
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