Earlier this year, celebrity tattoo artist Daniel Joseph Silva caused a deadly crash after driving under the influence. Silva, known for his appearance on the reality T.V. show “Ink Master,” was driving his McLaren at high speeds when he lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle flew off the road and crashed into a stop sign.
The passenger in the car was 25-year-old YouTube star Corey La Barrie. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died from his injuries. Because Silva was under the influence of alcohol when the crash occurred, he faced criminal charges for La Barrie’s death. KTLA News reported that Silva entered a no contest plea “to one count of gross vehicular manslaughter…[and] no faces up to four years in prison…”
When a drunk driving accident results in the death of another person, the drunk driver can face criminal charges like in this case. However, in addition to any criminal charges the driver may face, the driver is also civilly liable to the family members of a drunk driving crash victim. In this case, the family members of Corey La Barrie can bring a wrongful death claim against Silva for his death as it was caused by Silva’s reckless decision to drive while under the influence of alcohol.
Sadly, drunk driving accidents occur far too frequently–according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “In 2018 there were 10,511 fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes in which at least one driver had a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher.” These accidents caused by drivers driving under the influence of alcohol are both tragic and totally preventable. The decision of even one driver to drink and drive can immediately change a family’s life forever if their loved one is killed in a drunk driving accident.
The purpose of a Los Angeles wrongful death claim is to provide some financial compensation and justice for the family who suddenly loses a loved one. No one should have to experience the unexpected loss of a family member because of drunk driving–if this tragically does occur, they deserve to be compensated. With the help of a skilled Los Angeles wrongful death attorney, the family can bring a claim against the party responsible to get money damages for the losses associated with the death of their loved one. This can include financial recovery for unexpected hospital bills, funeral and burial expenses, and even lost earnings.
At Walch Law, We offer a free case consultation for individuals and families facing these difficult circumstances. We have years of experience helping family members obtain compensation after the sudden loss of their loved one in a car accident or other type of accident. We are compassionate and will work diligently to get you the recovery you are entitled to. Our free consultation can be scheduled by calling our office at 866-465-8792.
We extend our condolences to Corey La Barrie’s family and hope they can get the justice they deserve.