The effects of drunk driving are far reaching. Not only can it land an offender in jail in New Jersey, but injuries or deaths from a drunk driving accident can reach far beyond the people directly involved. The effects are felt by the family of the victims, emotionally and financially.

This week, a woman who killed her friend in a drunk driving accident in 2010 was sentenced to five years in prison. She pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and driving while intoxicated. The woman who drove drunk, lost control of her vehicle and hit another car. Two passengers were ejected from the vehicle, one who died and another who was hospitalized for months from injuries.

Sadly, the criminal sentence this woman will serve will not bring back the person who died, or repair the injuries the other passenger suffered. The family of the man who was killed likely will have a difficult time dealing with his loss. Not only can a drunk driving accident have devastating emotional effects on New Jersey families, but it can also have a profound financial impact on the victims and their families.

The man killed in the accident may have provided crucial income for his family, meaning his family will now have to work to replace that income. Those injured in an accident might have extensive hospital bills that aren't fully covered by insurance. Because expenses can add up fast after an accident, it might be wise to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney to help seek compensation for your injuries.

Source: NJToday.net "Newark Woman Sentenced in Drunk Driving Death," Feb. 6, 2012