California Injury Blog
Three people were injured in what officials say was a DUI crash involving 47-year-old Lori Gallo, the wife of a California cheese magnate, who they say was drunk and speeding at more than 125 mph when she attempted to pass a vehicle on a two-lane road in Merced and sideswiped it.
According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, the high-speed crash sent Gallo’s Maserati barreling into a ditch. Three other cars were damaged in the wreck, and three people were injured.
Injury Car Crash Near Merced
Officials said Gallo got too close to a Lexus that she was trying to speed past as she approached an intersection on the night of Jan. 20. The impact with the Lexus sent Gallo’s Maserati careening into a Honda that was stopped at the crossroads. Both vehicles ended up in a ditch several hundred feet away. A fourth car was damaged after it hit a tire and a wheel that had been ripped off Gallo’s car.
Three people were injured in the crash, including the drivers of the Lexus and the Honda. Gallo was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI collision causing injury. Officials also said she had a blood-alcohol level of twice the legal limit. She was released after posting bail. Last week, she pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol.
As a condition of her release, the judge ordered Gallo to refrain from alcohol and/or drugs, not enter any business that sells alcoholic beverages and attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Her attorney told the court that Gallo attends AA meetings three times a week and the she is enrolled in a voluntary driving while intoxicated program.
Compensation for Injured Victims
Under California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a), it is illegal to drive a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The same section also states that it is against the law to drive a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher. DUI drivers, in addition to facing criminal penalties, can also be held civilly liable for the injuries, damages, and losses they cause.
In such cases, injured victims can seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitation, permanent injury, disability, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. An experienced California DUI victims’ lawyer will be able to advise injured victims and their families regarding their legal rights and options.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-03-25/gallo-family-member-charged-with-dui-in-maserati-crash