Carriage Ride Turned Deadly
Just two months ago, on Saturday, July 21, 2012, what began as one couple’s romantic carriage ride ultimately became their worst nightmare. Spending a weekend in Galveston, TX, Sugar Land natives Renee and Bob McKelvey stepped out for a night on the town to celebrate Renee’s birthday. On their ride back to their hotel, however, their night was cut short when 21 year-old Michael Grayson—who had been drinking that night—rammed his car into the back of their horse-drawn carriage. The couple, along with the carriage driver and an innocent bystander, was immediately rushed to the local hospital. Renee was left in critical condition, while Bob, 57—and the horse pulling the carriage—died soon after the crash.
Since that day, life for the McKelvey family has become a major adjustment. Renee, who spent nearly a month at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Galveston, is unable to move without assistance. With their father gone and their mother in a wheelchair, brothers Shaun and Steven McKelvey, both in their mid-twenties, have stepped up and taken over the family business, All About Carpet. This Sugar Land, TX company, started by Renee and Bob in the mid-1990s, has been an institution in the area for the past twenty years.
Meanwhile, Michael Grayson—who was charged with intoxication manslaughter—is currently behind bars at Galveston County Jail. Upon hitting McKelvey, Grayson tried to flee the scene. Witnesses detained him until the police arrived, at which point he admitted that, in addition to drinking, he was on medication.
In cases like these, hospital bills, accident expenses, and—in fatal cases—funeral costs often add up. In exchange for their loss, family members, spouses, or other loved ones have the right to seek financial compensation from the accused individual. By hiring an auto accident attorney, you and your family will be able to ensure the most positive outcome of your case.
From a legal standpoint, car accident cases can be very complicated. There are lots of details, and finding who to blame isn’t always as simple as it seems. To make it worse, insurance companies like to cover as little as possible. If you or your loved one has been hit by a driver who was speeding, using drugs, under the influence of alcohol, distracted or tired—or even if their vehicle malfunctioned—hire a qualified auto accident attorney to help defend your case.