California Injury Blog
Michael Daniel Noreikas Jr., 28, was killed in a Riverside car accident, which officials say, was caused by his brother, 25-year-old Daniel Noreikas, who was driving under the influence. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, Daniel Noreikas was driving his 2003 Ford F-150 pickup truck on Olivewood Avenue near Panorama Road early morning on November 20, 2010 when he lost control. The pickup hit a curb and rolled over. Michael Noreikas was transported to a local hospital where he died. Daniel Noreikas was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter.
I offer my deepest condolences to the Noreikas family for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Drunk Driving Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 11 fatalities and 176 injuries as a result of DUI collisions in Riverside. In Riverside County as a whole, 101 people died and 1,090 were injured due to alcohol-related car accidents during the same year.
DUI Laws in California
Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is a serious crime under California law. 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.”
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.”
Protecting Victims’ Rights
In this case, officials say Michael Noreikas was not wearing his seatbelt at the time. However, if I were a member of the family, I would also want to find out if a seatbelt defect was involved. In such cases an experienced Riverside car accident lawyer will be able to better advise families about their legal rights and options. For more information about the dangers of drunk driving, please visit the Mothers Against Drunk Driving web site, www.madd.org.
Lost a family member in a Riverside County 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 Riverside car accident. Call 800-259-6373. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.
Call a Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys Riverside 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.
Should first-time California DUI offenders be required to install ignition interlock devices in their vehicles?
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.