A DUI collision in Tulare County injured Sheriff’s Deputy Benjamin Quintana the morning of August 2, 2010. According to a news report in The Fresno Bee, a 25-year-old man who was traveling east on Avenue 328 near Highway 63 crossed over the center line and slammed head-on into Quintana’s police cruiser. Quintana sustained injuries, which were not life-threatening. The other driver was uninjured.
It is indeed fortunate that Quintana was not catastrophically injured in this crash. I wish the police officer the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Accident statistics
There were 21 deaths and 214 injuries involving DUI collisions in Tulare County in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Also, countywide, 65 people died and 1,724 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.
DUI Laws
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.” It is illegal in California to drive with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher.
Compensation Issues
Based on this report, it is not clear what the van driver’s blood alcohol level was at the time of the collision. Drivers who are found guilty of operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs can face criminal charges as well as civil liability for the injuries and damages caused to victims. In such cases, victims may recover compensation to cover medical expenses, payment for time away from work, pain and suffering, and other related damages. In this case, the police officer will also be entitled to worker’s compensation benefits because he was on the job at the time of the accident.
Injured victims would be well-advised to seek the counsel of an experienced California personal injury lawyer, who will better inform them about their legal rights and options. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also determine how their own car insurance policy will apply to a case where the at-fault motorist is uninsured or underinsured. For more information about the dangers of drunk driving, please visit MADD’s web site at www.madd.org.
Do you believe that drunk driving is a problem in your community?
The Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys 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.