A 31-year-old man who was killed in a car accident in Modesto the morning of February 13, 2011, has been identified as Derek Rocha. The Modesto Bee reports that the suspected DUI collision occurred when the driver of the vehicles, Antonio Vitor Lourenco, lost control and crashed into a tree. Rocha was thrown out of the vehicle and suffered fatal injuries. Lourenco was booked on suspicion of DUI, vehicular manslaughter and driving unlicensed. An investigation is ongoing.
I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Derek Rocha for their devastating loss. Please keep this grieving family in your prayers.
Drunk Driving Statistics
There were 17 fatalities and 291 injuries reported as a result of drunk driving crashes in Stanislaus County in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Modesto, one person was killed and 111 were injured as a result of DUI collisions in 2008.
Laws and Liability Issues
Based on this news report, Lourenco was driving under the influence of alcohol, which is a serious offense under California law. 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 under California Penal Code section 191.5 (a).
In such cases, the families of deceased drunk driving victims can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for medical and funeral expenses, lost future income, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages. An experiencedModesto personal injury lawyer will be able to better advise families of victims about their legal rights and options.
The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will be able to inform families about how their own car insurance policy might apply to an incident where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.
Lost a family member in a Stanislaus 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 Modesto DUI car accident. Call 800-561-4887. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.
Call a BISNAR | CHASE Modesto 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.
SLS Consulting