Kayla Lopez Injured, Driver Arrested in Setauket DUI Crash
18-year-old driver arrested after Honda Accord strikes median on Long Island Expressway
Kayla Lopez, 19, of Stony Brook, was seriously injured in a suspected DUI car accident on the Long Island Expressway in Setauket, Suffolk County, New York, on Friday, April 17, according to the Suffolk County Police.
Officers arrested the driver, 18-year-old Olibia Perez-Bonilla, on a charge of driving while intoxicated. She will be arraigned at a later date following her release from medical care.
The eastbound 2003 Honda Accord veered out of its lane at 12:22 a.m., striking the center median before rebounding and crashing into the right-side barrier.
Paramedics transported the passenger to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The driver was also taken to the same facility with non-life-threatening injuries.
The crash remains under investigation.
Why did the Honda strike the median on the Long Island Expressway?
While the criminal case against Perez-Bonilla proceeds, investigators will examine the crash scene to determine the exact sequence of events that led the vehicle off the road. Victims like Lopez often face a long road to recovery, and it is important that a competent attorney handles investigations into cases such as this to ensure the rights of the injured passenger are protected.
National LNational Legal Analyst Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal, noted that "In DUI car accidents, most people don't realize that breathalyzers actually measure mouth alcohol rather than blood alcohol. Things like acid reflux or mouthwash can spike a reading, which isn't always an accurate reflection of a person’s actual level."
The crash adds to a rising toll across the state. In New York, police reported 10,182 crashes involving a driver or pedestrian with a BAC of .01 or more, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
What are the legal rights of an injured passenger?
Passengers injured in single-vehicle crashes often have clear grounds to pursue compensation through the at-fault driver's insurance policy.
According to National LNational Legal Analyst Stefano Formica, Of Bond Legal, noted that "The anger following a DUI car accident injury is often as intense as the physical pain itself. Studies show that over half of convicted offenders will continue to drive even after their license is suspended."
New York personal injury framework
New York follows a pure comparative fault system with no-fault auto insurance. The statute of limitations is 3 years.
Under New York's no-fault system, PIP benefits cover medical expenses and lost wages up to $50,000 regardless of fault. To pursue a liability claim, injuries must meet the 'serious injury' threshold under Insurance Law § 5102(d).