California Injury Blog
Three people were hurt in a Los Angeles car accident involving a school bus and another vehicle, which officials say, was caused by a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, the injury accident occurred at the intersection of East 166th Street and Clarkdale Avenue in Norwalk the afternoon of December 6, 2010 when a pickup truck collided with the school bus. Two high school students in the bus suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the pickup truck, identified as 30-year-old Ramon Garcia, is suspected of driving under the influence. He was transported to a local hospital with unknown injuries. An investigation is ongoing.
It is indeed fortunate that none of the students here were seriously injured in the bus versus pickup truck accident. I wish the injured victims the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Alcohol-Related Car Accidents
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were two fatalities and 38 injuries involving DUI collisions in Norwalk. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 258 people died and 4,832 were injured as a result of alcohol-related car accidents during the same year.
Laws Relating to Drunk Driving
Based on this news report, it appears that officials suspect the driver of the pickup was under the influence at the time of the accident. It is illegal under California law to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. 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 also illegal under the same section to drive a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher.
Fault and Liability
If the driver of the pickup is determined to have been at fault, he could face criminal charges and also be held civilly liable for the injuries and damages caused. In such cases injured victims can seek compensation from the at-fault party for medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, physical therapy and other related damages. Car accident victims would also be well-advised to seek the counsel of a reputed California personal injury attorney, who has the experience and a successful track record of holding drunk drivers financially responsible for their actions. 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 Los Angeles County 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 Norwalk bus accident. Call 800-259-6373. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.
Call a Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys Los Angeles 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.
In your opinion, should first-time 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.