A 71-year-old woman was struck and killed in a Long Beach car accident, which police say, was caused by a female driver under the influence of alcohol. According to a news report in The Press Telegram, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred on Anaheim St. near Elm Ave. in Long Beach the night of November 14, 2010. The elderly woman was waiting at a bus stop when a 2003 silver Jaguar drove onto the sidewalk and struck her. She was transported to a local hospital where she died from her injuries. Danita Rector, 41, the driver, has been booked on suspicion of felony drunk driving and vehicle manslaughter with gross negligence.
My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the woman killed in this suspected DUI collision. My thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), six people were killed and 234 were injured in Long Beach pedestrian accidents. During that same year, there were 214 fatalities and 4,985 injuries reported in Los Angeles County as a result of pedestrian accidents.
Drunk Driving Laws
Based on the news account, the driver responsible for this tragic accident was under the influence at the time. According to California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a): "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."
A driver whose act of driving under the influence results in the death of another will likely face vehicular manslaughter charges. California Penal Code Section 191.5 (a) states: "Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought, in the driving of a vehicle, where the driving was in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153 of the Vehicle Code, and the killing was either the proximate result of the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, and with gross negligence, or the proximate result of the commission of a lawful act that might produce death, in an unlawful manner, and with gross negligence."
Liability Issues
In such cases, the family of the deceased victim would be well-advised to contact a reputed Long Beach personal injury lawyer, who has the experience and a successful track record holding drunk drivers financially responsible for their actions.
In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, the family of a deceased victim can file a wrongful death claim against an at-fault party seeking compensation for medical and funeral expenses, lost future income, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages. A skilled car accident attorney can also advise the family about how their car insurance policy might apply to an incident where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.
Lost a family member in a Long Beach car accident? Want to know your rights? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation? Want justice? Want to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to another family?
Call your best friends in the legal industry after a fatal Long Beach pedestrian accident. Call 800-561-4887. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.
Call a BISNAR | CHASE Long Beach wrongful death lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your rights by attorneys who have been representing families of deceased accident victims since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a compassionate and understanding law firm in a comfortable environment.
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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 information source 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, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
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