The family of a boy killed in an Alaska drunk driving accident will receive a $1 million dollar settlement. The wrongful death lawsuit was filed after Eric and Lori Landers' son Matthew died after being trapped inside the back on an SUV that had plunged into a river.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk driving accident, it is critical to speak to a Sacramento accident attorney immediately to discuss your next steps and answer your personal injury questions. During this difficult time, it is important to have someone on your side who can protect your interests. A skilled California personal injury attorney can ensure your rights are represented and that you and your family receive the compensation you deserve after suffering harm in an accident.
Here, the wrongful death lawsuit arose after the Landers had reluctantly allowed Matthew to go on a summer fishing trip to Alaska with a family friend. Under the friend's supervision, the 12-year-old got into the car with a drunk driver who had been partying all night. The driver then crashed the vehicle into a river. Although the driver and two other passengers survived unharmed, the boy was unable to get out of the car and died. The driver subsequently pled guilty to negligent homicide and DUI.
Although the family friend - Randy Sozanski - was not charged with a crime, he was found responsible for the death based on a theory of negligent supervision of a minor. The family had entrusted him with the care of their son, who they relied on to make the right choices in his care of Matthew. According to reports, Sozanski had taken Matthew to a bonfire, where five adults drank beer and smoked pot. Because it had started to rain when the group was preparing to leave, Sozanski put Matthew in the car rather than in the back of his pickup truck where he had ridden before. A couple hours after the accident, the driver of the car had a .083 blood alcohol content, although sources believe it may have been much higher at the time of the incident.
The $1 million will be paid out of Sozanski's homeowner's insurance policy. Sozanski initially told the family that the car had been caught in a mudslide but the family later learned from state troopers that Matthew had been killed with riding with a drunk driver.
This case is a tragic example of the dangers of drunk driving and the need to designate a driver to avoid potential catastrophic injuries and death. For more information, or if you or a loved one has suffered harm in a personal injury accident, contact the dedicated Sacramento personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Frederick J. Sette for a free consultation.
