Yvonne Morgan was seriously injured in a San Diego car accident after she was struck by a driver who, officials say, was under the influence, ran a red light and broadsided her vehicle at an intersection. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, police arrested 21-year-old Jose Espinoza shortly after the incident.
Espinoza was driving a Chevy pickup truck east on Jamacha Road in Spring Valley the morning of March 25, 2011, when he ran a red light at Sweetwater Road and hit Morgan’s Lincoln Navigator. Morgan apparently had the green light at the intersection while traveling north on Sweetwater. Espinoza fled the scene on foot and Morgan was transported to a local hospital with head injuries. However, officers soon tracked down Espinoza to his home. He has been charged with felony hit-and-run causing injury and felony DUI.
My heart goes out to Yvonne Morgan, who has been seriously injured in this hit-and-run car accident. I wish her the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
DUI Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 33 fatalities and 408 injuries involving DUI collisions in the unincorporated areas of San Diego County. Also, countywide, alcohol-related collisions claimed 104 lives and injured 2,033 people in 2008.
Several Violations of the Law
If the details of this news report are accurate, it appears that the driver of the Chevy pickup truck, Jose Espinoza, was not only under the influence and ran a red light, but also left the scene of the crash that caused severe injuries to the other driver. I’m relieved to hear that the hit-and-run driver has been apprehended. Leaving the scene of a car accident is not only an inhumane and irresponsible act, but also illegal under California law.
California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a) states: “The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident.” In addition, driving under the influence of alcohol is a violation of California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) and running a red light is a violation of California Vehicle Code Section 21453 (a).
Victims’ Claim for Compensation
In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, injured victims can file a claim against the at-fault party seeking compensation for medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other damages. Car accident victims would be well-advised to contact a reputed San Diego personal injury lawyer, who has the experience and successful track record holding drunk drivers financially responsible. A skilled accident lawyer should also be able to inform them about how their own car insurance policy applies to an incident involving an at-fault driver who is uninsured or underinsured. For more information about the dangers of drunk driving, please visit the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) web site at www.madd.org.
Seriously injured in a San Diego County hit-and-run car accident? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation for your injuries? Want justice? Want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else?
Call your best friends in the legal industry after a San Diego DUI car accident. Call 800-259-6373. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.
Call a Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys San Diego personal injury lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your case by attorneys who have represented over 6,000 clients since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a friendly law firm in a comfortable environment.