Underage drunk driver causes chain-reaction crash in Lincoln, NE
Lincoln, NE – A 19-year-old drunk driver was arrested in Lincoln, NE, after causing a chain-reaction crash on O Street. According to local police, Edgar Aguilar-Ramos first hit a stopped car. The force of the impact caused the second car to hit a third, which in turn crashed into a fourth, sending it against a fifth car. The young driver tried to flee the scene and hit a sixth car at the intersection of 10th and O Streets before he was forced to stop due to the extensive damage his car sustained.
Ramos was taken to jail where a standard test showed he had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .186, more than twice the legal limit. He was charged with DUI, leaving the scene of an injury accident, minor in possession of alcohol, reckless driving, and no operator’s license.
If you or a loved one were recently involved in a chain-reaction crash, you should talk to an experienced Nebraska accident lawyer right away as recovering damages can be quite complicated in such cases.
How is liability determined in a chain-reaction crash?
When you file a personal injury claim following a car accident, your lawyers will have to prove that the other driver was negligent. However, keep in mind that Nebraska follows a comparative negligence rule under which your damages can be reduced if you are found partially to blame for what happened.
In the Lincoln chain-reaction crash, the fault seems to lie with the young drunk driver. Yet, the insurance adjuster or the jury will look at the role each driver played. For instance, if one of the drivers involved in the crash was going over the speed limit that constitutes negligence. Even though he didn’t cause the crash, his own negligence might end up costing him 10-20% of the damages he was entitled to.
The same applies if one of the drivers was tailgating the car in front of him or if he was distracted at the time of the crash.
How can you recover damages for a drunk driving accident in Nebraska?
If a minor causes a car accident you may have a hard time recovering damages. Under Nebraska laws, a driver must be at least 19 years old to buy their own car insurance. If the minor does not have car insurance, your Nebraska car accident lawyers may be able to file a claim against their parents’ insurance.
On the other hand, even if the young driver does not have insurance, you may be able to recover your losses using Nebraska’s Dram Shop laws. According to the law, if you were injured in a drunk driving accident you can file a claim against the owner of the establishment that sold alcohol to a minor.
Also, under the Social Host law, you can sue the adult who procured alcohol to a minor or served them alcohol on their property. If, however, the minor’s parents were present and allowed their child to consume alcohol, the host is not liable for your damages. Your lawyers will have to build a case against the driver’s parents instead.
If you were recently injured in a car accident in Nebraska, schedule a free consultation with a knowledgeable attorney at the Rensch & Rensch Law firm, with offices in Omaha and Columbus. Their attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t owe them anything unless they win your case.
Contact info:
Toll-free: 800-471-4100
Omaha office:
7602 Pacific St #102, Omaha, NE 68114
Columbus office:
1470 25th Ave, Columbus, NE 68601
