California Injury Blog
Jesus Eduardo Lopez, 17, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident, which officials say involved an underage drunk driver. According to a report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the fatal DUI collision occurred on Sierra Highway near Angeles Forest Highway in Los Angeles, the night of March 16, 2012. Officials say a 17-year-old girl was under the influence when she lost control of a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer and crashed into a guardrail. Lopez was a passenger in the Lancer and was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Jesus Eduardo Lopez following this tragic Los Angeles accident. My thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.
Los Angeles DUI Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 83 people were killed and 2,218 were injured inDUI collisions in the city of Los Angeles. Countywide, DUI collisions caused 204 fatalities and injured 4,672 people, during the same year.
What Caused This Fatal Collision?
Based on this news article, the teen driver of the Mitsubishi may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. Under California Vehicle Code Section 23152, drivers 21 years of age and older may not drive a car with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or higher. Drivers under the age of 21 face even greater restrictions regarding alcohol. According to California Vehicle Code Section 23136: “It is unlawful for a person under the age of 21 years who has a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.01 percent or greater, as measured by a preliminary alcohol screening test or other chemical test, 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)
Liability Issues
In such cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, the family of a deceased car accident victim can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation to cover medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future wages, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages. Victims’ families would be well advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. 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.