Last week, on Monday, June 9th, a woman identified as Ingrid I. Morataya rear-ended and killed two others in Mesa, Arizona. The accident occurred at Recker and Brown roads in east Mesa, according to the Mesa Police Department. Morataya was driving a FJ Cruiser allegedly at a speed significantly higher than the posted speed limit when she crashed into 37-year-old Guadalupe Madril and 33-year-old Jason Aguilera, killing both them of them instantly. The accident also involved two other vehicles whose drivers were treated at the scene. Morataya herself sustained a broken vertebrae and was arrested following her release from the hospital on June 16th.
According to Mesa Police Sgt. Tony Landato, Morataya told treating fire personnel that she had been going 120mph prior to the crash. She herself was acting in a strange manner and admitted that she had smoked marijuana the night before. Other reports corroborate this statement and have led to her arrest. She is being charged with two counts of manslaughter, aggravated assault, aggravated Driving Under the Influence and a DUI while driver’s license has restriction of ignition interlock device. She has also had a previous extreme DUI arrest and conviction in 2008 and 2009. Unfortunately, her repeat offenses culminated in the death of two innocent drivers.
Legal Commentary
Not only are drunk drivers committing a crime, they are also endangering the lives of everyone around them. In this case, it was that of innocent drivers who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drunken driving accidents accounted for nearly one-third of all traffic related deaths in 2010 in the United States. The challenge for many individuals who are injured or whose loved ones are killed in a drunken driving accident is to make the right choice about their legal rights.
Successfully pursuing a claim against a drunk driver is difficult, but not impossible. Though they may be facing a difficult situation, it is important for individuals and families who have been impacted by drunken driving to quickly seek out legal guidance and representation in order to successfully pursue any possible claims against a drunk driver.
If you or a loved one has suffered from someone else’s drunk driving, you should contact the professionals at Fears | Nachawati. We can answer your questions, provide you with the proper guidance, and successfully represent you in any potential claims. We understand the difficult situations drunken driving accidents present and are prepared to advise you. Talk to us today for your free consultation.
About the Author
Majed Nachawati is a preeminent wrongful death lawyer with a focus on representing victims and families involved in work accidents, automobile accidents, and product liability claims. He attended Richland High School, Southern Methodist University for his undergraduate degree, and The University of Houston for Law School. Following Law School, Mr. Nachawati completed a two year clerkship for a Texas Court of Appeals. After his tenure with the court, Mr. Nachawati has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Texas Monthly Magazine for the past four years in a row due primarily to his legal excellence involving catastrophic 18 wheeler crashes, wrongful death cases, and products liability cases. Mr. Nachawati is a member of the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee, The Million Dollar Advocates Forum, on the Board of Directors for the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, a Fellowship Member of the American Association for Justice, a member of the Board of Directors for Public Justice, a member of the Tarrant County Bar Association and Dallas Bar Association and Dallas Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Nachawati can be reached at 1.866.705.7584 or by email at mn@fnlawfirm.com. Information about Mr. Nachawati and his wrongful death case resolutions can be found by contacting him or viewing his Super Lawyer’s Profile.