Driving Drunk Is A Deadly Decision

The down-side of driving while drunk can go way down and it makes no difference whether you are a prominent businessman or a candle-stick maker, the authorities are going to do what is necessary to protect the public and punish the evil doers. A case in point happened in Jackson Mississippi back in February of this year. According to the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, Karen Irby, wife a prominent businessman was driving her Mercedes, after taking way drunk, in excess of 100 mph when she ran head-on into a pickup truck carrying Dr. Daniel Pogue and his fiancée, Dr. Lisa Hutchinson, killing both of them instantly. The lawyers and staff at Phillip Miller & Associates send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Pogue and Dr. Hutchinson

Several important things have happened since then. Karen Irby was indicted in May on charges of murder with a depraved heart and aggravated assault in the doctors’ deaths. She also was indicted on aggravated assault for the injuries sustained by her husband and passenger, Stuart Irby. Karen Irby is out of jail on a $250,000 bond; her trial is set for March 29, 2010.

According to the Clarion-Ledger last week a wrongful death lawsuit was filed in Hinds County Circuit Court on behalf of the estates of the two deceased doctors. The lawsuit alleges Karen Irby’s negligence caused the fatal collision. Included in the acts of negligence are driving recklessly, driving while under the influence of alcohol and driving “at a time when she knew she might experience a ‘black out,’ ” the lawsuit alleges. The doctors’ estates are seeking $60 million in damages in the lawsuit filed against Karen Irby and her husband, Jackson businessman Stuart Irby.

According to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention every day, 36 people in the United States die, and approximately 700 more are injured, in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $51 billion.

When a driver under the influence makes the decision to drive they are not in control of the outcome of this act and, as in this case, the lives of two human beings were taken needlessly. They had their whole lives in front of them and those lives were taken away in a second by the selfish and stupid act of this person. The bad actor here will experience some changes in her life when she is sentenced to hard-time in the State Penitentiary and she and her husband lose all that they had worked for over the years.

If you or a loved one is injured by a Nashville drunk driver contact the experienced Nashville car accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies