Police in Murrysville responded to the scene of a two-vehicle head-on collision involving a drunk driver on Friday, January 11. The accident happened on School Road near the intersection of Foxwood Court at around 2 p.m.
According to the authorities, 56-year-old Lane J. Weiner had two cold 12-packs of Bud Light which were opened in the backseat of her vehicle at the time of the accident. There were also several empty beer bottles in the backseat.
A witness told responding officers that she had been driving behind Weiner for about a mile prior to the accident and that she suspected Weiner was impaired. She said that Weiner was driving erratically and speeding up a hill on School Road when she crossed the center line and collided head-on with another vehicle.
Firefighters had to free both drivers from their vehicles as they were trapped. The man driving the other vehicle underwent surgery at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh for a broken wrist and leg. Weiner was brought to the same hospital for treatment of her injuries.
Weiner’s BAC was 0.098 percent, which is above Pennsylvania’s legal limit of 0.08. She has been charged with aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence and other related offenses.
Attorney contributor Guy D'Andrea helps drunk driving accident victims and their families find justice and financial support in civil lawsuits. We’ve asked him to share some thoughts on the legal options available to these victims and families in Pennsylvania:
With the consequences of drunk driving being common knowledge, there is no excuse for getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. Drunk drivers must be held criminally responsible for endangering the safety of the other drivers sharing the road. When these drivers cause an accident, it’s important to make sure their victims get the full support they need and deserve. In many cases, this involves the victim filing a lawsuit.
Bars, nightclubs, and other alcohol vendors who serve drunk drivers are sometimes also responsible for a drunk driving accident. In Pennsylvania and many other states, dram shop law allow the victims of drunk drivers to hold these vendors liable for alcohol-related injuries if they served someone who was visibly intoxicated and that person caused an accident due to their intoxication.
If you or a loved one has recently become a victim of a drunk driving accident, you can learn more about your family’s legal options by speaking to one of our experienced DUI accident attorneys.