A Turlock man who chose to drive drunk caused an accident that resulted in fatal injuries to a local girl. Drunk driving is one of the most common causes of car accidents both in California and across the country. Victims of drunk driving accidents may have a right to compensation both from the drunk driver and from those who served that driver alcohol prior to the accident. Learn more below, and contact a knowledgeable Stockton or Sutter Creek drunk driving accident attorney for help after a drunk driving crash.
Crash causes serious injuries to three victims
On Friday, December 14, 2018 at 7:00 pm, a Toyota carrying an adult female driver and two young female passengers was driving near the intersection of Geer Road and East Monta Vista in Turlock. A 21-year-old man driving a truck collided with the Toyota and proceeded to crash into a nearby parked car and carport, where the truck came to rest.
One of the Toyota’s young passengers, an eighth-grade student at Dutcher Middle School, was thrown from the car in the collision and declared dead at the scene of the accident. The driver was airlifted to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. The second young passenger in the Toyota also suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital. The driver of the truck was found to have suffered only minor injuries in the crash and was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated.
Drunk driving can lead to criminal and civil liability
Drivers found to be drunk at the time of a crash can face substantial fines, restitution and jail time, in addition to the suspension of their driver’s license. Drunk drivers can also face civil liability through a personal injury lawsuit filed by the victims of these crashes. Drunk drivers can be made to cover the costs of victims’ medical expenses, lost work, and pain and suffering, and they may even be forced to pay punitive damages as punishment for their reprehensible behavior. Not only will the driver face liability, but California law permits victims to seek damages against those who may bear responsibility for the driver’s drunkenness. Dram shop laws state that, when employees of a bar or restaurant noticed that a patron was becoming intoxicated but continued to serve that patron alcoholic drinks, that bar or restaurant may be held financially liable for crashes caused by that drunken patron. A knowledgeable California personal injury lawyer can help drunk driving accident victims determine what damages are available and who may be held liable for victims’ injuries caused by a drunk driver.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk driving crash in California, get knowledgeable and seasoned help with your claims by contacting the effective and professional Sutter Creek personal injury attorneys at Redkey Gordon Law Corp for a free consultation at 209-267-1685.