California Injury Blog
A bicyclist was injured in a Newport Beach car accident, which officials say involved a suspected drunk driver. According to a news article in The Daily Pilot, the injury crash occurred the morning of May 4, 2012 near the intersection of Bayside Drive and Jamboree Road. A pickup truck hit the male bicyclist who was riding south on Bayside Drive near Jamboree. Police arrested the driver of the pickup on suspicion of driving under the influence. The bicyclist’s injuries were non-life-threatening.
My thoughts and prayers are with the injured victim of this DUI collision. I wish this bicyclist the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to the California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were two fatalities and 95 injuries involving bicycle accidents in Newport Beach. In Orange County as a whole, 12 people died and 1,199 were injured due to bicycle accidents, during the same year.
Laws and Liability Issues
Based on the news report, the driver of the pickup truck was under the influence at the time of the collision. Under California law, it is illegal for drivers to operate with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher. 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.”
In such cases, the at-fault driver can be held liable for the victim’s injuries and damages in addition to facing criminal charges. Injured victims can seek compensation to cover damages including medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related expenses. Bicycle accident victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Newport Beach personal injury lawyer who has financially pursued drunk drivers on behalf of victims and their families. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families. 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.