Two people, including a suspected drunk driver, were seriously injured in a Los Angeles car accident early morning on July 3, 2010, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports. The injury crash occurred near the intersection of Seventh Avenue and Palomares Street in Pomona. Police, moments earlier, had stopped Raul Gonzalez, who was driving a 1994 Chevy S-10 pickup truck, because he appeared to have been driving intoxicated. However, Gonzalez sped off even as the officer was preparing to administer a DUI test. Gonzalez drove for about a few blocks before crashing into three parked cars. Both, he and his 42-year-old female passenger sustained serious injuries and were airlifted to an area hospital.
I sympathize with the injured passenger. I hope she has not suffered catastrophic injuries. This incident is yet another reminder of how dangerous getting in a car with an intoxicated driver can be. I pray that this victim recovers quickly and completely from her injuries.
DUI Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were two fatalities and 89 injuries involving DUI collisions in Pomona. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 258 people died and 4,832 were injured as a result of alcohol-related crashed during the same year.
Drunk Driving Law
Based on this news report, it appears that Gonzalez may have been under the influence at the time of the crash. It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher 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."
Claim for Compensation
In such cases, injured victims would be well-advised to consult an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and make sure that the negligent parties are held accountable. Drunk drivers can be held financially responsible for the injuries and damages they cause to victims. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of earnings, hospitalization, surgery and rehabilitation costs.
A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also be able to advise victims about how their own car insurance policy applies to an incident where the drunk driver or at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured. For more information about the dangers of drunk driving, please visit the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) web site at www.madd.org.
Have you ever gotten into a vehicle with a drunk driver? What are some tips you would offer passengers to avoid getting into DUI collisions?
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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