A pedestrian has been fatally injured in a Huntington Beach car accident, which officials say, may have been caused by a woman who was driving under the influence. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred the morning of April 27, 2017. Police say officers were called to the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Edinger Avenue after a blue BMW sedan traveling north struck a pedestrian who was on the east side of Beach Boulevard. The pedestrian was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. The driver, identified by the authorities as 34-year-old Anastasia Hull, was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI. The investigation is still ongoing.
We offer our deepest condolences to the family members and friends of the deceased pedestrian. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Crash Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2013 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were five fatalities and 110 injuries reported as a result of DUI collisions in Huntington Beach. In Orange County as a whole, 60 people died and 1,235 were injured due to alcohol-related car accidents during the same year. Also, countywide, 52 deaths and 784 injuries were reported due to pedestrian accidents in 2013.
California DUI Laws
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver, Hull, was under the influence when she struck the pedestrian. Under California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a), it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The same section also makes it illegal for a motorist to operate with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher. Drivers who cause fatal injuries while under the influence may also face vehicular manslaughter charges.
Fault and Liability
In such cases, in addition to facing criminal charges, at-fault drivers can also be held financially responsible for the injuries, damages and losses they cause. In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is a factor, families of deceased victims can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver seeking compensation for damages such as medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering and loss of love and companionship.
Wrongful death lawsuits are often brought by the immediate survivors of the decedent such as a spouse, child, parent, sibling or someone else who was financially dependent on the victim. In such cases, an experienced Huntington Beach car accident lawyer can help victims’ families fight for their rights and hold the wrongdoers accountable.