Christian Martinez, 5, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident, which police report, was caused by a suspected drunk driver. According to KTLA News, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred on Poplar Place in Huntington Park the evening of May 15, 2011. The driver, a 25-year-old man who lives in the neighborhood, is facing felony DUI charges and could also be charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. It is not clear at this time if the child ran into the street, or if a driving error by the intoxicated motorist was the primary cause of the accident. An investigation is ongoing.
My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Christian Martinez following this tragic pedestrian accident. My thoughts and prayers are with the boy’s parents during this difficult time.
Los Angeles DUI Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 31 injuries reported due to Huntington Park DUI collisions. During that same year, there were 258 fatalities and 4,832 injuries reported involving alcohol-related accidents in Los Angeles County.
California DUI Laws
Police say that the driver here was under the influence of alcohol. Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is illegal under California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a). A driver whose act of driving under the influence results in the death of another will likely face vehicular manslaughter charges.
California Penal Code Section 191.5 (a) states: “Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought, in the driving of a vehicle, where the driving was in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153 of the Vehicle Code, and the killing was either the proximate result of the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, and with gross negligence, or the proximate result of the commission of a lawful act that might produce death, in an unlawful manner, and with gross negligence.”
Liability Issues
The family of a victim killed in a DUI crash may pursue compensation for their loss by filing a wrongful death claim. Compensation may be available for losses, including medical and funeral costs, loss of companionship, and emotional distress. Victims’ families in such cases would be well-advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. 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.
Lost a family member in a Los Angeles County DUI car accident? Want to know your rights? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation? Want justice? Want to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to another family?
Call your best friends in the legal industry after a fatal Huntington Park pedestrian accident. Call 800-259-6373. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.
Call a Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your rights by attorneys who have been representing families of deceased accident victims since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a compassionate and understanding law firm in a comfortable environment.