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Missouri Wrongful Death Attorneys: Driver Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol Kills University of Missouri-Columbia Agriculture Professor

By Ryan Bradley, Esq.

The Bradley Law Firm, LLC, a Missouri personal injury law firm, based in St. Louis has learned of another serious car accident, that resulted in the death of a respected University of Missouri professor.

On Friday, February 22, 2008, 33 year old William C. Down, from St. Charles, Missouri, was arrested for Second Degree assault, driving while intoxicated and operating a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, all stemming from a car accident that took the life of Charles D. Fulhage, a University of Missouri professor.

The Missouri Highway Patrol reported Down's was driving his 2002 Dodge pickup on Interstate 70, when he hit the rear of Mr. Fulhage's 2001 Ford Ranger truck, causing it to leave the road and overturn.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol alleged Downs was under the influence of marijuana, cocaine and prescription drugs at the time of the accident. Downs was arrested and jailed but was released later that night.

Boone County Missouri prosecuting attorneys have requested additional time to file amended charges against Downs.

It was reported Downs was previously arrested on October 5, 2007, in St. Charles, Missouri for drunk driving and plead guilty to those charges on February 7, 2008.

Mr. Fulhage was a MU waste management specialist and professor at the University of Missouri's Divison of Food Systems and Bioengineering.

The Fulhage family will certainly have a claim for wrongful death against Mr. Down. In addition, to compensatory damages, Missouri law also provides for punitive damages, those designed to punish those who commit acts that are done with a conscious disregard for the safety and well being of others. In this matter, the Fulhage family will likely seek both compensatory and punitive damages.

Drunk driving is a very serious offense. In recent years, the Missouri legislature has cracked down on those who drive drunk. For those that injure or kill others operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, significant jail time can be expected.

At the Bradley Law Firm, we take drunk driving cases that result in serious personal injury and wrongful death very seriously. We believe a concerted effort between the local prosecuting attorneys and the civil law firms that represent the injured victim can reduce the number of traffic related deaths and injuries stemming from intoxicated drivers.

If you or a family member have been injured by an intoxicated driver, or have a family member who was injured or killed by a drunk Missouri or Illinois driver, please feel free to contact us any time to discuss your case. As always, we offer free legal consultations with absolutely no obligation to retain our services.

Full post as published by Missouri Accident Lawyer Blog on February 29, 2008 (boomark / email).