California Injury Blog
Eight people were injured in a Los Angeles car accident, which officials say, was caused by a suspected DUI driver involved in a police pursuit. According to an ABC news report, the pursuit resulted in a three-vehicle accident on Nordhoff Street in Northridge the night of December 10, 2010. Police in Malibu had earlier tried to stop a driver they believed to be under the influence of drugs when he sped off. This initiated the police pursuit that ended when the suspect’s vehicle crashed into two other vehicles. The suspected DUI driver suffered critical injuries, while two victims in a Mercedes sustained serious back and neck injuries, and five others suffered relatively minor injuries.
My thoughts and prayers are with the many injured victims of this Los Angeles car accident. I wish them all a complete and speedy recovery from their injuries.
DUI Collisions
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 105 people were killed and 2,252 were injured in DUI collisions in Los Angeles. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 258 deaths and 4,832 injuries were reported as a result of alcohol-related car accidents during the same year.
California Drunk Driving Laws
It is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol in the state of California. 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 to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher.
Liability Issues
The injured victim of a DUI driver can file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party for compensation of medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, physical therapy, chiropractic care and other related damages. A skilled Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will also be able to advise victims about how their own car insurance policy might apply to an incident involving an uninsured or underinsured driver.
In such cases, it might also be a good idea to examine whether the police agency conducting the pursuit followed their own protocols, or whether they unnecessarily put public safety at risk. In addition to the drunk driver, in some cases, the police agency may also be held liable for the injuries, damages and losses caused. Please remember that any such personal injury claim against a governmental agency must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident or injury, under California Government Code Section 911.2.
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 Los Angeles car 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.
What is your opinion of police pursuits? What are the circumstances under which you think they are justifiable?
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.