Five people were injured in a car accident caused by a Kaiser surgeon who was driving the wrong way on a Napa area highway early morning on February 21, 2010. According to a news report in the Vallejo Times-Herald, a head-on collision occurred when Dr. Michael Meehan, a 61-year-old orthopedic surgeon at Kaiser, who was driving a Toyota Tacoma, struck a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero on the Highway 221, near Kaiser Road. California Highway Patrol officials arrested Meehan on suspicion of driving under the influence. The driver and passengers of the car that Meehan struck ranged in age from 17 to 23. Those individuals sustained moderate to major injuries and were all transported to a Napa hospital. Meehan broke both his legs in the crash, the report states.
It's indeed a relief that no one was killed in this head-on collision. I sympathize with the people in the Oldsmobile who have apparently sustained serious injuries. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep these injured victims in your thoughts and prayers.
DUI Collision Statistics
There was one fatality and 36 injuries involving DUI collisions in Napa in 2008, according to CHP's traffic accident statistics. Also, during the same year, alcohol-related collisions claimed nine lives and caused 96 injuries countywide.
DUI Laws in California
Driving under the influence is a serious crime under California law. It is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher. 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
The injured victims in this case would be well-advised to get in touch with a reputed San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who has an excellent track record of financially pursuing drunk and negligent drivers. In this case, the injured victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, hospitalization costs, rehabilitation and other related expenses. In cases where an at-fault DUI driver is returning from a work-related party or official gathering, the employer could also be held liable. The best California personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive claim evaluation to injured car accident victims and their families.
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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