Rochester, New York - 2 Injured in Rear-End Collision with Suspected Drunk Driver Timothy Bernard on Chili Avenue

2 Injured in Collision with Suspected Drunk Driver Near Byrne Dairy

Two people were hospitalized, one with serious injuries, after the vehicle they were in was rear-ended by a suspected drunk driver on Chili Avenue near Byrne Dairy on Wednesday night.

According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, both cars were traveling westbound on Chili Avenue at around 11:40 p.m. when the crash occurred. A Honda Accord was reportedly stopped and waiting to turn left into the Burn Dairy at 3771 Chili Avenue when it was struck from behind by a Volkswagen Jetta.

The driver of the Honda was seriously injured, while the passenger in that vehicle and the Jetta driver suffered minor injuries.

The Jetta driver, 34-year-old Timothy L. Bernard, was charged with driving while intoxicated and vehicular assault.

A portion of Chili Avenue and Union Street was temporarily shut down while deputies continued to investigate the scene overnight.

Financial Compensation For Drunk Driving Injuries in New York

Attorney contributor Laurence Banville represents people who have been injured by drunk drivers in civil lawsuits. Here is some general information from Laurence concerning the legal options available to people who have been injured by drunk drivers in New York:

If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver in New York or any other state, you may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit against that drunk driver. However, New York is also one of several states which, under certain circumstances, may allow you to file a lawsuit against the alcohol vendor who served that driver before the crash. This second type of lawsuit is known as a dram shop claim.

According to New York’s dram shop laws, an alcohol vendor or social host can be held liable for illegally providing alcohol to an intoxicated person. People who have been injured by drunk drivers can bring a lawsuit against a vendor or host in either of the following scenarios:

• the vendor or host “knowingly” caused intoxication by providing alcohol to someone who was visibly intoxicated, or
• the vendor or host knowingly caused intoxication by unlawfully providing alcohol to someone they knew or should have known was under 21 years old.

Sources

https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/henrietta-man-charged-with-dwi-after-crash-on-chili-ave/