Drinking and driving and accidentally killing a person has cost a North Carolina man 15 years of his life. The man, 22, of Forest City, North Carolina, plead guilty to the charge of driving under the influence that resulted in a death.

Last August, the defendant was driving in his pickup truck when he struck the victim from behind. The victim's motorcycle became entangled with the grill on the truck and was pushed more than 300 feet. The victim, 51, was pronounced dead at the scene and it was determined that he did not have any drugs or alcohol in his system when the accident happened.

When authorities arrived, they smelled alcohol on the defendant's breath and he admitted that he had been at a party earlier in the evening where he drank and took a hit of marijuana. The defendant agreed to take a blood test and it confirmed that he had smoked marijuana and registered a blood-alcohol reading of .052.

A case like this is tragic for everyone involved because the consequences are permanent and will affect the lives of both families forever.

If you've been hurt in an accident as a result of a drunk driver, you should speak with a qualified attorney. They understand what needs to be done as it relates to insurance companies and an attorney will protect you from low settlement offers and work to get you the compensation that you deserve.

For the defendant in this case, he'll have to serve at least 12 years of his sentence before he will be eligible for parole.

Source: WSPA News 7, "North Carolina Man Sentenced To 15 Years For Fatal DUI Accident," Jan. 30, 2012