Tuesday, June 4th, just before 10 pm in Ruidoso, New Mexico, an alleged drunk driver, Jadyn Wyatt Mow, caused a head-on collision that resulted in the fatality of George S. Fitzgibbon. State Police reported responding to the fatal head-on collision that occurred near 1408 Mechem Drive in Ruidoso.
According to New Mexico State Police, 22-year-old Mow was traveling north on Mechem Drive in a Dodge Ram pickup truck while at the same time, 46-year-old Fitzgibbon was traveling south in a Subaru. At one point, Mow crossed the center line and entered into opposing traffic, striking the Subaru head-on.
State Police reported that Fitzgibbobn died at the scene and Mow sustained only minor injuries.
After assessing the accident scene, police determined that Mow was determined to be driving while under the influence of alcohol. Mow was booked into the Lincoln County Detention Center and is being charged with DWI, resulting in great bodily harm or death.
Wrongful Death Claims
Family members who have wrongfully lost their loved one due to another person’s negligence may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim. These claims seek to provide compensation for the survivors’ loss, including lost wages from the deceased, lost companionship, and funeral expenses.
To establish a wrongful death claim, generally, the family must prove the following elements:
- Duty of Care: The plaintiff must show that the defendant owed a duty of care to the deceased.
- Breach of Duty: it must be demonstrated that the defendant breached this duty of care.
- Causation: the plaintiff must prove that the defendant’s breach of duty directly caused the death of the deceased.
- Damages: the plaintiff must show that they suffered damages as a result of the death.
“Our hearts go out to the family who lost their loved one in Tuesday night’s collision,” says Brian Colón, an attorney at Singleton Schreiber, “As a personal attorney, I’ve seen the devastating impact a fatal DWI accident can have on family members and the community. I’ve held the hand of a mother who buried her child due to the recklessness of a drunk driver. It is important that the Mow’s family, and families in similar situations know, that they may have legal recourse, and could consider contacting and experienced wrongful death attorney to learn more about their options.”
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Driving under the influence is a common cause of car accidents, there are other factors that can also contribute to the cause of accidents, including:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Poor weather conditions
- Not adhering to posted traffic signs and signals
- Driver fatigue
- And more
If you have wrongfully lost a loved one in a DWI car accident, call Singleton Schreiber today at (505) 605-2076 or by email at info@singletonschreiber.com to learn more about your options from our Albuquerque car crash lawyers.
