RSSWhile drunk drivers can be held responsible for damages they cause to others on the road – such as other motorists and pedestrians – they can also face charges even if an accident they cause harms only themselves and their passengers.
Recently in Santa Ana, the driver of a BMW crashed his vehicle into a concrete barrier on a 5 Freeway on-ramp. According to witnesses, the male driver had sped through a few red lights on 1st Street near the freeway and Western Avenue. A little after 2:00 a.m., the car collided with the barrier. The impact took the life of a 21-year-old passenger in the vehicle; the crash also crumpled the BMW’s front end and damaged the concrete. Following the accident, the car’s speedometer was supposedly stuck at over 80 miles per hour.
The driver suffered critical injuries and had to be taken to a hospital for treatment. Police did not immediately release the driver’s identity, but did mention that the man was in his 20’s and faces pending charges. He had apparently been behind the wheel without a license, and authorities also mentioned he had a history of violations for speeding. Officials suspect that, in this incident, he had been driving in some sort of impaired state.
The passenger was from Rancho Santa Margarita and tragically passed away at the scene.
In some cases, it may be possible for families of deceased passengers to hold a drunk driver accountable in civil court. Many who drive drunk in Southern California will find themselves the target of a personal injury or wrongful death suit. Still, for drivers accused of causing deadly DUI accidents, their first encounter with the law will likely be in criminal court.
If a person is convicted of DUI for the first time in California, that driver may have to face the possibility of a $1500 fine, several years of probation and even a six-month stint in jail. However, the law recognizes ““enhancements,” such as speeding, that can worsen penalties for a convicted drunk driver. Going faster than 20 mph over the posted limit on certain streets, for example, can result in a minimum of 60 days in jail.
Drivers suspected of a Los Angeles DUI may have their own injuries and recovery to deal with, but it’s never too early to start forming a strategic defense against California’s tough DUI penalties. For more information contact the Law Offices of Jonathan I. Kelman at 310.286.1218 for a free initial consultation.