Posted on Thursday, September 3rd, 2020 at 2:23 am
A tragic DUI head-on car accident left one person dead and another person arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. According to the California Highway Patrol, a driver attempted to pass another vehicle and caused the accident. The accident occurred near East Levee Road just before noon on Elkhorn Boulevard. The driver attempting to pass using the other lane of traffic and crashed head-on into a van.
The collision caused the sedan to crash into another sedan and a pickup truck that was traveling behind the van. Emergency responders and California Highway Patrol officers arrived at the scene. The van’s driver died at the accident scene.
The driver of the sedan that allegedly caused the accident was a 29-year-old man from Antelope. He was transported to Mercy San Juan Medical Center to receive medical care for his injuries. The man is allegedly facing several charges regarding the accident, including gross vehicular manslaughter and DUI causing death.
A DUI Head-On Car Accident Can Have Numerous Consequences
Driving under the influence is illegal in California. The legal BAC limit for DUI is .08. However, you can be charged with drunk driving offenses, even though your BAC is lower than the legal limit. If the blood alcohol in your system impairs your ability to operate a motor vehicle safely, you could still face criminal charges for a BAC below the legal limit.
In addition to criminal charges for a DUI head-on car accident, a driver could also face civil penalties. If a DUI head-on car accident causes injuries to another person, the victim can pursue a personal injury claim against the drunk driver.
Damages that a person might claim for a DUI accident include:
- Past and future medical care
- Past and future loss of income and benefits
- Pain and suffering damages
- Disabilities and permanent impairments
- Other out-of-pocket financial losses
The injuries from a DUI head-on car accident can be traumatic. In many cases, the victim may incur substantial financial losses. If the drunk driver does not have sufficient car insurance to cover the claim, the victim may file a personal injury lawsuit against the drunk driver. The judgment could result in a wage garnishment against the drunk driver.
When a DUI head-on car accident results in a death, the family of the deceased person may file a wrongful death lawsuit against the drunk driver. The same situation would arise in which the family receives a personal judgment against the driver and requests a wage garnishment order from the court to collect the judgment.
Contact a Sacramento DUI Accident Lawyer for Help
DUI accidents are preventable. A driver chooses to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after consuming alcohol or using drugs. When that person causes an accident, the California personal injury laws allow the victim to hold the driver liable for damages caused by the crash.
However, DUI accident cases can be complicated. There are time limits for filing claims. It is best to talk to a Sacramento DUI accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your legal rights and options for seeking compensation for your personal injury damages.
Contact our office by calling (916) 999-9000 to request your free consultation with one of our Sacramento DUI accident lawyers.
