A 30-year-old Long Island man has been arrested in the aftermath of a fatal car accident that took place in Shirley earlier this month. He currently faces charges of driving while impaired, stemming from the highway collision that killed a 5-year-old boy.

Suffolk County police reported that the accident occurred on Sunrise Highway in Shirley on Dec. 10. The 30-year-old man reportedly rear-ended a pickup truck on the highway. The pickup truck then veered off the road, crashing into a tree.

A 5-year-old passenger in the pickup truck was critically injured in the accident and airlifted to a hospital. He died the following day. The 36-year-old driver of the pickup, the boy's father, suffered non-critical injuries. The boy's mother and two siblings also suffered minor injuries.

The 30-year-old driver that rear-ended the car that the family was in may face further criminal charges now that the young boy has died.

In addition, he may face civil litigation in the form of wrongful death and personal injury suits. When Suffolk County families lose a loved one in a car accident due to someone else's negligence, they are entitled to wrongful death compensation.

While there is certainly no amount of compensation that can replace a 5-year-old son or lessen this emotional anguish, wrongful death compensation can account for medical expenses, funeral costs, and other financial expenses that were incurred as a part of this tragic incident. When these tangible costs are taken care of, the family will have a few less things to worry about during the difficult grieving process.

Source: Associated Press, "NY man arrested in crash that killed 5-year-old," Dec. 11, 2011