Robin Jent, age 57, who lived on Churchman Avenue in Louisville died at UL Hospital from injuries she received in a head-on car crash that occurred on Manslick Road. The driver of the vehicle that hit Ms. Jent was charged with DUI and Murder. Ms. Jent operated a day car facility known as Robin’s Playhouse.
Jason Shawler, age 38, of Louisville, was killed in a head-on auto accident on the Gene Snyder Freeway, near Shelbyville Road, after the car he was in was struck by a pickup truck driving the wrong way on the freeway. The Driver of the pickup that killed Jason Shawler was charged with DUI, Murder and driving on a suspended license. Mr. Shawler had a successful career at Ford.
In both these tragic deaths, strong criminal prosecution is taking place. The drivers who drove drunk and killed an innocent person should be criminally prosecuted to the max. The families of these two victims of drunk drivers also have civil legal claims to prosecute these matters under Kentucky civil law. The families of persons killed in DUI related deaths can have a legal Estate established through the Kentucky Civil Courts (these are civil matters and not handled through criminal prosecution), which will then authorize a representative of the deceased person to file a Kentucky Wrongful Death Claim.
Under Kentucky Wrongful Death civil claims, the drunk driver and his insurance company to force legal monetary compensation for everything from medical bills related to the injuries, funeral expenses, pain & suffering of those killed, and a calculation of the deceased person’s lost lifetime earnings capacity (known as lost future wages). The lost future wages can be substantial depending up the deceased’s age at time of death and the yearly wages they earned.
The Ackerson Law Offices and Wrongful Death Attorney Brent T. Ackerson (clink here for a link to the Ackerson Law Offices and more information) believe that civil legal justice and compensation for the families is very important. Such claims help the families out financially with the bills they have incurred, bills they may incur due to the need for therapy and counseling related to the death of their loved one, and help with financially punishing drunk drivers. Many families also use the funds obtained to establish memorials in the names of their lost loved ones.