California Injury Blog
Ruben C. Vasquez, 20, was killed in a San Bernardino car accident on the 60 Freeway after a suspected drunk driver rear-ended him, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports. California Highway Patrol officials say Vasquez was driving a 2006 Chevy Cobalt on the freeway, in Chino, the morning of June 20, 2010, when his vehicle was struck from behind by 33-year-old Daniel Rosas. Two minutes later, another suspected drunk driver crashed into Rosas’ 2007 Nissan Frontier while he was still sitting in the car. That driver Alex Ruiz Leal, 23, as well as Rosas were arrested on suspicion of DUI. Vasquez was transported to a local hospital where he died from injuries sustained in the crash.
I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ruben Vasquez for their tremendous loss. Please keep this grieving family in your thoughts and prayers.
DUI Statistics
According to CHP’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 45 injuries involving DUI collisions in Chino. In San Bernardino County as a whole, 94 people died and 1,052 suffered injuries as a result of alcohol-related car accidents during the same year.
Drunk Driving Law
It is illegal under California law to drive with a blood alcohol level 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, where the DUI accident results in death, the driver could also face vehicular manslaughter charges under California Penal Code section 191.5 (a).
Liability Issues
This particular car accident involved not one, but two suspected drunk drivers. If Rosas is determined to have been at fault, he could not only face criminal charges, but also be held financially responsible for the wrongful death of Ruben Vasquez.
In such cases, family members of deceased car accident victims would be well-advised to consult with an experienced San Bernardino personal injury lawyer, who has had remarkable success in financially pursuing drunk drivers. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also be able to advise families about how their auto insurance policy might apply to a case where the at-fault motorist is uninsured or underinsured. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free, comprehensive and confidential consultation to injured victims and their families.
What are some of your ideas for getting repeat DUI offenders off the road? We would like to hear your opinions. For more information about preventing drunk driving accidents, please visit Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s web site at www.madd.org.
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.