Six people were injured in a California car accident involving a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in the Ventura County Star, 28-year-old Adriana Ponces was entering Highway 154 from Paradise Road in an unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County the night of August 30, 2009 when she made a left turn ahead of an SUV driven by 42-year-old Elizabeth Nally. The front end of the SUV hit the left side of Ponces' car. Two of Ponces' passengers--22-year-old Leticia Gonzalez and 27-year-old Edgar Vega Gomez--sustained major injuries that required surgery. Nally, Ponces and Ponces' two other passengers, Oscar Gomez, 19, and Yuridia Tzompantzi, 19, suffered minor injures. California Highway Patrol officials said everyone involved in the accident was buckled up. Ponces was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and driving without a valid license.
My heart goes out to the two severely injured victims as well as the others who were injured in this horrific accident. I wish the injured victims the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep them in your prayers.
Santa Barbara Car Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 42 fatalities and 2,117 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in Santa Barbara County. During the same period, there were19 fatalities and 315 injuries in Santa Barbara County involving alcohol-related car accidents.
Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is a serious crime. California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) states: "It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle." The same code section also states that it is illegal for any person with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or more to drive a vehicle.
Based on this news report, it also appears that Ponces, the suspected drunk driver, made a left turn in front of Nally's SUV. California law is very specific about the requirements for drivers making a left turn or a U-turn.
California Car Accident Law
California Vehicle Code Section 21801 (a) states: "The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left or to complete a U-turn upon a highway, or to turn left into public or private property, or an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to the approaching vehicles until the left turn or U-turn can be made with reasonable safety."
Victims in such cases would be well-advised to consult with a reputed California personal injury lawyer, with experience and a successful track record handling car accident cases involving drunk drivers. A skilled car accident attorney can help hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions and get victims fair compensation for their injuries, damages and loss.
The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our source for the facts is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, please contact us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. Most of the best law firms will provide accident victims a free consultation.
We cannot fully inform any party or family member about their rights, options or the economic viability of any claim for compensation without a full investigation and consultation. We will not be conducting an investigation into this matter unless we are retained by a party. We will provide a free, confidential consultation to any, not at fault, person named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
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