California Injury Blog
Samuel Bendimez, 23, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident, which officials say, was caused by a drunk driver. According to a report in The Pasadena Star-News, the fatal car accident occurred the morning of January 21, 2011 on Valley Boulevard near San Gabriel Boulevard in San Gabriel.
A woman, who was driving the pickup truck in which Bendimez was passenger, lost control and rear-ended a parked tour bus that was loading passengers at the time. Another female passenger in the Ford F-150 truck was hospitalized with serious injuries. Several bus passengers were treated for minor injuries. The driver of the Ford pickup was also seriously injured. She has been charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Samuel Bendimez for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. My heart also goes out to the other seriously injured victim in the truck as well as the injured bus passengers. I wish these victims 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 no fatalities, but 17 injuries involving DUI collisions in San Gabriel. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 258 people died and 4,832 were injured due to alcohol-related car accidents during the same year.
Drunk Driving Laws
Based on this news report, the driver of the pickup truck was under the influence at the time it rear-ended the bus at a high rate of speed. The two rear passengers in the pickup were apparently not buckled up because they were sleeping. Police say all occupants of the pickup had been drinking before this horrific accident.
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 under California Penal Code Section 191.5 (a).
Protecting Victims’ Rights
In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, the family of a deceased victim can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for medical and funeral expenses, loss of future income, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages. Injured victims of DUI collisions can seek compensation for medical expenses, loss of earnings, hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to better advise car accident victims or their families about their legal rights and options. For more information about the dangers of drunk driving, please contact the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) web site at www.madd.org.
Lost a family member in a Los Angeles 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 San Gabriel bus accident. Call 800-259-6373. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.
Call a Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys