A 12-year-old girl sustained injuries in an Orange County car accident after she was struck by a suspected drunk driver at a Garden Grove street intersection. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury pedestrian accident occurred at the intersection of Clinton Street and Cardinal Way the evening of January 7, 2010. The girl apparently sustained a broken toe and cuts to her arms. Police administered field sobriety tests to the driver, 47-year-old Alvaro Hernandez. Officials determined that Hernandez was intoxicated and arrested him on suspicion of felony drunk driving.
My heart goes out to this young girl who was injured as a result of this car accident. I wish her the very best for a quick and complete recovery. I'm relieved that this accident did not cause any major injuries.
DUI Accident Statistics
There were two fatalities and 93 injuries involving alcohol-related car accidents in Garden Grove, according to California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics. Countywide, 75 fatalities and 1,503 injuries were reported as a result of DUI car accidents in 2007. Also, in Orange County, 41 people died and 726 were injured in pedestrian accidents during the same year.
California Drunk Driving Laws
Driving under the influence is a serious crime in California. 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.
Liability Issues
If Hernandez is found to have been driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, he should be held criminally and civilly liable for causing this accident and injuries to the girl. In such cases, victims or their families would be well-advised to consult with a reputed Orange County personal injury attorney who has a successful track record of holding drunk drivers and negligent drivers accountable for their actions. A knowledgeable car accident attorney will also be able to advise victims about how their own car insurance policy applies to an accident involving an uninsured or underinsured motorist.
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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