A tragedy resulting from DUI is never an easy reality to deal with for any parties involved. Whether you’re the perpetrator or the family of the victim, it will be a tough situation to move past. However, it is imperative to start addressing the legalities of the situation immediately in order to prepare oneself for the healing process.
For the perpetrator, it will be difficult to face up to the reality that you caused the death of a innocent person as a result of your carelessness and negligence. However, the first thing the transgressor should do is accept responsibility and call a DUI lawyer. After all, a good attorney can help a perpetrator of DUI minimize the penalties associated with their crime. After which you can begin to face their mountains of guilt by offering a sincere apologize to the family of the victim. Whether they accept your apology or not, it’s the right thing to do.
Moreover, it will be important to take several steps to help everyone heal if your family loses a loved one at the hands of a drunk driver. With that said, even if the driver is convicted and serves jail time, this is not going to bring your loved one back, nor will it reduce the level of grief that everyone needs to deal with.
Tips for Moving Past a DUI Death
1. Counseling – Everyone in the family should be given the opportunity to discuss the situation with a grief counselor. This will make it much easier to work through the wide variety of feelings that accompany grief, and it will also enable everyone to learn how to express themselves more clearly during future tragedies.
2. File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit – Although no amount of money can take the place of a person who has died, it is still important to consider the financial well-being of the family. Therefore, if the victim had children or a spouse who relied on them for financial support, it is definitely a good idea to consider filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party.
3. Hold a Fundraiser – Many families decide to hold a fundraiser in their loved one’s honor. For example, you could ask your friends and extended family members to donate to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to help spread awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving. Additionally, you could volunteer as a family to help the local chapter of MADD hold meetings or circulate flyers.
How do We File a Lawsuit?
If you have decided that you would like to move forward with legal action, you will need to consult with a local attorney who specializes in wrongful death cases. Keep in mind that the driver might not have the ability to pay for a large settlement, but this does not mean that you should not consider all of your options. Most states will require you to be able to prove that you are directly related to the victim in order to file a lawsuit. It is also important to ensure that you take legal action before your state’s statute of limitations has expired. Fortunately, an experienced lawyer will be able to answer all of your applicable questions, and they will also help you take all of the proper steps in the allotted time frame.
Heart broken by avoidable tragedies, Will Powell seeks to help families of victims cope with their loss and inspire perpetrators of drunk driving to modify their behavior. He has learned by researching sites such as http://www.virginiaduidefense.com that DUI attorneys can help explore all of the options available surrounding a criminal case.
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