Drunk Driving

Drunk Driver Who Killed Los Angeles Angels Pitcher Gets 51 Years to Life

December 23, 2010 | by Robert Walch

On April 9, 2009, Andrew Gallo, who was on parole for a felony DUI conviction, ran a red light and T-boned a car carrying Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, and three friends, in a horrific California drunk driving collision.

Adenhart, as well as Courtney Stewart and Henry Pearson, were killed in the collision. Another passenger, Jon Wilhite, sustained catastrophic injuries as a result of this impact.

According to ESPN.com, Mr. Gallo, who had a blood alcohol level nearly three times the California legal limit of .08%, had been drinking beer and shots at three different bars with his stepbrother before causing this collision. Mr. Gallo’s Criminal defense attorney requested one sentence of 15 years to life for her client, with the argument being that he did not intend to hurt anyone.

Teen Driver Charged in Orange County Drunk Driving Accident

December 22, 2010 | by Robert Walch

Another tragic California drunk driving collision resulted in the deaths of Steven Uselton and his son, Douglas Uselton. According to the Los Angeles Times, the driver of the other car, Rafael Lopez, has been charged with two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter, for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

The Orange County car accident, which occurred this past Sunday, happened in the early hours of the morning and apparently Mr. Lopez was traveling at high speeds when he collided with the Uselton’s Buick.

Mr. Lopez, who is only 18 years old, now faces significant time in jail or prison as a result of this tragic California drunk driving accident. The family of the victims also has a potential wrongful death claim against Mr. Lopez. If Mr. Lopez does not have adequate insurance coverage, he could be found personally liable for the excess damages he has allegedly caused.

4 Car Collision in North Hills Injures 5 After High Speed Chase

December 13, 2010 | by Robert Walch

A high speed chase of a suspected drunk driver, that started in Calabasas, California, ended with a 4 car collision in North Hills on Friday. The suspect in the chase was the most seriously injured, while the 4 other injuries are believed to be minor to moderate, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Unfortunately, high speed chases ending in a multi-vehicle collision in Los Angeles are an all too common occurrence. Fortunately, here, the injuries to innocent bystanders do not appear to be very serious.

The question continues to come up as to whether these Los Angeles high speed chases are actually necessary. Some commentators advise that a new system of simply tracking the vehicle without the fleet of patrol cars following at high speeds would be a safer option for the public.

Drunk Driver Injures Los Angeles School Bus Passengers

December 9, 2010 | by Robert Walch

On Monday, two high school students were injured in yet another Southern California drunk driving accident. Their school bus was hit by a Ford truck, which was apparently driven by a drunk driver. Fortunately, the injuries to the students were minor. Unfortunately, Los Angeles drunk driving collisions continue to occur.

All too frequently, Los Angeles drivers, passengers and pedestrians are injured by drunk drivers. Our office has handled cases of Los Angeles drunk driving accidents involving drunk drivers running stop signs or red lights, driving the wrong direction on roads, rear ending a stopped car, making unsafe turns, etc.

While many drunk drivers often escape serious injury, their victims are often not as lucky. While we have seen cases where the drunk driver was able to run from the scene of the collision, our clients have been seriously injured by Los Angeles drunk drivers.

Huntington Beach Drunk Driving Prevention Proposal

November 17, 2010 | by Robert Walch

Due to a significant problem with drunk driving injuries in Huntington Beach, the Huntington Beach City Council and Police Department are considering a policy of publicly shaming drunk drivers on Facebook.

According to the Los Angeles Times, “A July report by the city said there is ‘a significant DUI problem in Huntington Beach,’ citing 274 alcohol-related collisions and 1,687 drunk-driving arrests last year — one of the highest rates statewide for a city its size.”

This is a major concern as we all know the risk that drunk drivers pose to not only other drivers and pedestrians, but also to themselves. The theory seems to be that the threat of injury, severe fines and possible jail or prison time are not enough and that the fear of a public ridicule on Facebook may help prevent drunken driving injuries in Huntington Beach.