Buffalo Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Discusses Advancement of Alix’s Law

March 27, 2013

Last July, an 18-year-old girl was killed in a Pedestrian Accident caused by a drunk driver. Now, according to an article from WGRZ 2 News, a law in the girl’s name is one step closer to closing the loophole that allowed the driver responsible for the fatal crash to avoid conviction for failing to render aid to the victim.

A local doctor was found to have been driving drunk when he struck the victim as she skateboarded home. He later stated that he had not realized he had hit a person until several hours later when he arrived home.

Current law states that a driver is only responsible to stop following a collision if they know or have reason to believe they hit something. Because of this loophole, a jury found the drunk driver not guilty on a felony charge of fleeing the scene of an accident.

In response to this injustice, Senator Patrick Gallivan has sponsored a bill, titled “Alix’s Law”, prohibits a driver from leaving the scene of a collision if anything is struck.

After receiving Senate approval this past Monday, the bill must now be examined by the state assembly.

William Mattar Law Offices and their team of Buffalo Personal Injury Lawyers applaud the efforts being made to hold motorists accountable for their actions behind the wheel. The firm also hopes the law is able to better protect the community’s pedestrians from injury.