DUI

Two people, including the suspected drunk driver, were injured in a Laguna Beach car accident, which occurred early morning on January 6, 2012. According to a news report in the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot, the injury crash occurred in the 1500 block of Glenneyre Street. Police say 18-year-old Cameron Tyler Bigelow was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after crashing his vehicle into a home. Bigelow's passenger suffered a broken right leg, sprained neck and back, and severe trauma to his right eyeball. Bigelow had a laceration on the back of his head. Both were transported to an area hospital. Damages to the home were estimated at about $3,000.

It is indeed fortunate that none of the residents were injured in this crash. I wish the injured passenger the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

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Miguel Melchor, 21, was killed in a Riverside car accident which officials say, involved a drunk driver. According to a news article in The Press-Enterprise, the fatal DUI crash occurred at the intersection of Rancho California Road and Meadows Parkway in Temecula, the night of December 24 2011. Officials report the driver of a white Toyota Tacoma pickup was under the influence of alcohol when he drove through a red light and collided with a Toyota Tundra pickup. Melchor was pronounced dead at a nearby medical center and three others were hospitalized with injuries.

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Two police officers were injured in a Los Angeles car accident, which officials say, involved a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in The Daily Breeze, the DUI collision occurred on Vermont Avenue in Gardena, the night of December 14, 2011. The police officers were sitting in a patrol car that had its emergency lights flashing when a minivan rear-ended them. The two officers sustained non-life threatening injuries. A third officer who was standing near the car was able to avoid injury by leaping out of the way. Authorities quickly apprehended the driver, Jovan Lamar Pryor, 33, after he attempted to flee the scene of the crash.

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Mothers Against Drunk Driving announced that, alongside the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), they will launch new efforts to raise awareness on the dangers of drugged driving. While drunk driving remains the primary threat to safety on American roadways, in recent years MADD has become increasingly worried about the growing trend of poly-abuse (the use of both drugs and alcohol simultaneously) and drugged driving crashes.

Today, driving under the influence no longer simply refers to driving drunk, and while the substances being used may be different, the cost of such actions remain the same – needless deaths and injuries. Removing these drivers from the road and teaching responsibility is MADD's top priority. Educating today's youth about past mistakes can help us make sure it doesn't happen in the future. Read the rest »

A truck driver was injured in a Costa Mesa car accident, which officials say involved a man who was driving under the influence, the morning of November 16, 2011. According to a news article in the Daily Pilot, the truck accident occurred in the southbound lanes of Newport Boulevard at Del Mar Avenue. A Toyota 4Runner SUV driven by 29-year-old Michael Conzelman of Santa Ana hit the Coca-Cola delivery truck. The truck driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Police report Conzelman was under the influence of an unknown substance, was hallucinating, and was confrontational with officers. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

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Jorge Cisneros, 18, was killed in an Orange County car accident, which officials say, involved a suspected underage drunk driver. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal collision occurred early morning on November 6, 2011 on Santiago Canyon Road near Irvine Lake. California Highway Patrol officials say Jesus Manzo Torres, 18, was driving a 1996 Subaru Legacy at a high rate of speed when he lost control and crashed into a tree. The impact of the collision was apparently so great that the Subaru sheared into two.

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Five people were injured in a Huntington Beach car accident, which officials say, was caused by a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury collision occurred near the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Newman Avenue early morning on October 11, 2011. Officials say the driver of a Toyota Camry, identified as 22-year-old Forrest Leland Kelly, was northbound on Beach when he broadsided a southbound Dodge Durango driven by 28-year-old Thomas William Barrett.

The Dodge that had three passengers was making a U-turn at the intersection when the crash occurred. The Dodge overturned and all four occupants were transported to a local hospital with injuries. Kelly was also injured, but was later arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Anyone with information about this crash is asked to contact Huntington Beach police officials at 714-536-5666.

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Ioane Lui Nuumau II, 28, and Ryan Faiga Tauilili, 24 were killed in a Los Angeles car accident after the pickup truck they were travelling in crashed into a cement wall. According to a City News Service report, the fatal car crash occurred on Wilshire Boulevard at Park View Street, the early morning of October 8, 2011. Officials say David Young Lee, 27, lost control of the white GMC pickup and struck a cement wall. Nuumau and Tauilili were killed in the crash, while Lee suffered critical injuries and a fourth occupant, a 23-year-old man, suffered minor injuries. Lee has been booked on suspicion of murder because the authorities believe he was driving under the influence of alcohol.

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Six children were injured, two critically, in a Lancaster car accident, which officials say, involved a suspected drunk driver. According to an NBC news report, the injury collision occurred the morning of September 25, 2011, when a 2002 Toyota Sequoia driven by 31-year-old Stanesha Nicole Allen, drifted onto the dirt shoulder near 65th Street East. The Toyota SUV rolled over and some of the children were ejected. Two of the critically injured children were airlifted to a hospital while four others sustained minor to moderate injuries. The children ranged in age from 10 months to 11 years old. Allen was arrested on suspicion of DUI. The children's relation to Allen has not been established. An investigation is ongoing.

My heart goes out to the young children who were seriously injured in this SUV rollover accident. I pray for their speedy and complete recovery.

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Nine bicyclists were injured, six seriously, in a Los Angeles car accident, which officials say, was caused by a drunk driver. According to a CBS News report, the injury bicycle accident occurred in the early morning hours of June 16, 2011 near the intersection of West Jefferson Place and Rodeo Road.

Witnesses say a 27-year-old woman was driving a Honda Civic at about 60 mph when she jumped a curb and plowed into a group of about 100 bicyclists. The group of bicyclists called the Korea Town Riders was participating in a late night ride that began in the Westlake district. The woman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Officials are still looking at blood alcohol test reports to determine the level of intoxication.

My heart goes out to all those who were injured in this horrific DUI collision. I hope none of the injuries were life-threatening. Please keep these injured victims in your thoughts and prayers.

Bicycle Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 24 injuries reported as a result of bicycle accidents in Culver City. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 33 people died and 3,315 were injured as a result of bicycle accidents in 2008. Also, countywide, 258 deaths and 4,832 injuries were reported as a result of DUI collisions during the same year.

Violation of Laws

Based on this news report, not only was the driver of the Honda Civic speeding and under the influence, but she accelerated into this group of bicyclists. Driving under the influence 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."
Also, California Vehicle Code Section 22350 (Basic Speed Law) states: "No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic and on surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property."

Holding Drunk Drivers Accountable

This driver should not only be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, but should also be held civilly liable for the serious injuries and damages caused here. How many of these bicyclists will be able to pursue their passion again? How long will it take them to get back on the road or even back to their jobs and living a normal life? This incident is an example of how one person's reckless actions and irresponsible choices can have a lasting and tragic impact on the lives of others.

Injured victims in such cases would be well-advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who has a successful track record of financially pursuing drunk drivers and holding them accountable. Victims can seek compensation for damages including all medical expenses, loss of earnings, hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy and pain and suffering. 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.

Seriously injured in a Los Angeles bicycle accident? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation for your injuries? Want justice? Want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a bicycle accident in Los Angeles. Call 800-561-4887. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

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