Man Charged with DUI after Crashing Through Restaurant
A seventy-three year old man is charged with driving under the influence after he crashed his Ford Explorer through the front of a Lake City, Washington drive-in recently. The man got out of the car after the incident and stated that he accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of the brake which led to the crash. The drive-in will reportedly be closed for a week or more, due to damage sustained by the front of the restaurant, the tile wall, and the metal counter. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. However, there exist in this scenario many possible sources of liability for the man should he be found to have been under the influence at the time or otherwise driving negligently.
First, the man will be held responsible for the damage sustained by the restaurant. This includes not only liability for the cost of the repairs, but also potential liability for lost profits suffered by the restaurant during the time it has to close to make those repairs. He will also be held liable for any injuries caused to any employees of the restaurant as a result of the crash, if any were caused. It is also worth noting that there were customers in or around the drive-in who may have been injured. For example, one customer was reportedly standing in line when he noticed the SUV heading straight for him, forcing him to dive out of the way and injure his knee. He wasn’t badly injured and was treated at the scene. Had he been badly injured and required further treatment, it is likely the man would have been held responsible for those injuries as well.
Situations such as this one present a lot of opportunities for persons and property to sustain injuries or damage. Victims of negligent driving should contact an experienced East Tennessee personal injury attorney who can help them recover for their losses. Likewise, those who find themselves liable in such situations should seek representation in order to avoid paying more than their fair share of damages.
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