California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
A driver of a white Honda, who was likely driving under the influence of alcohol, caused a head on crash in Santa Clarita. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, the driver attempted to make a left hand turn right into the path of an oncoming Toyota Sienna. The driver of the Honda died at the scene and those in the Toyota—the driver, his 3-year-old daughter, and another passenger— were hospitalized for what were described as moderate-to-major car accident injuries. Officers investigating the collision believe that excessive speed and alcohol were likely the contributing factors for the cause of the Santa Clarita car accident.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “every day, almost 29 people in the United States die in alcohol-impaired vehicle crashes—that’s one person every 50 minutes in 2016. Drunk-driving fatalities have fallen by a third in the last three decades; however, drunk-driving crashes claim more than 10,000 lives per year.” These statistics are indeed troubling and tragic.
When a DUI ends with causing injuries to another person, that person can bring a personal injury claim against the driver for the cost of their injuries, medical care, loss of earnings and other damages. When a DUI ends with causing a death, the family members of the victim can bring a wrongful death claim against the driver and owners of the vehicle that caused the accident. When the driver who was intoxicated dies as a result of a crash he or she caused, like in the above Santa Clarita wrongful death crash, the victims can still file a personal injury or wrongful death case against the estate of the drunk driver and any owners of the vehicle.
If you were injured or lost a loved one as a result of another person’s decision to drive while under the influence, Walch Law is here to help you. We understand the pain and financial burden that comes when a DUI crash results in personal injuries or the untimely loss of a loved one. Our attorneys are very experienced in representing California car crash victims and their families. Call us today for your free consultation!