A 21-year-old female rapper has been killed in a Los Angeles car accident, which police say, was caused by a suspected drunk driver. According to a report in The Pasadena Star-News, the fatal DUI collision occurred in Alhambra on the westbound 10 Freeway near Fremont Avenue early morning on December 16, 2010.
Jacob Garcia, 47, lost control of his Mercedes Benz sedan and crashed into a sound wall and some construction equipment along the shoulder. The woman, only identified as a musician, was killed in the car accident and five others suffered non-life threatening injuries. A worker who was sitting on a backhoe parked on the freeway shoulder sustained minor injuries as well. Garcia has been booked on suspicion of DUI and gross vehicle manslaughter.
My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the young performer killed in this tragic Los Angeles car accident. My thoughts and prayers are also with the injured victims of this DUI collision.
DUI Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), two people were killed and 16 were injured as a result of DUI collisions in Alhambra. During that same year, there were 258 fatalities and 4,832 injuries reported involving alcohol-related car accidents in Los Angeles County.
California Drunk Driving Laws
Driving under the influence is a serious crime under California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a). 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, injured victims can seek compensation from the at-fault drivers for medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. The family of a deceased car accident victim can file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault motorist seeking compensation for medical and funeral expenses, lost future income, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to better advise victims and their families in such cases about their legal rights and options. For more information about the dangers of driving under the influence, please visit the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) web site at www.madd.org.
Lost a family member in a Los Angeles County 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 Alhambra car accident. Call 888-259-6373. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.
Call a BISNAR | CHASE Los Angeles 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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