Yesterday afternoon five children were injured in a school bus crash, reportedly caused by a suspected drunk driver. The accident occurred a little after 3:00 p.m. when a female driver made a left turn in the path of the bus at a Gardena intersection. The 30-year-old driver of the Mitsubishi Eclipse was taken for a medical evaluation and was to be booked on suspicion of drunk driving. According to the CHP officer investigating the accident, the woman had the odor of alcohol on her breath. Fortunately, none of the injuries to the children or the bus driver were described as serious.
See the KTLA news story and video HERE.
Drunk driving accidents are far too common, and the one above is a perfect example of what happens. A driver, who probably doesn't think they are impaired, makes a poorly calculated decision they can make a turn safely when in fact the oncoming vehicle (bus) was too close, causing the accident. In this instance, the impact was severe enough to all but demolish the front of the bus and send it into a nearby building. Everyone aboard the bus is fortunate the injuries were not more severe. Now, the female driver of the Mitsubishi faces felony drunk driving charges (because of the injuries) and civil liability for her violation of the law. If the driver is found guilty of a violation of the left turn law (California Vehicle Code Section 21801) and/or the drunk driving statute (California Vehicle Code Section 23152), her civil liability will have been likewise established by the doctrine of "negligence per se."
Compensation for the victims of drunk driving collisions should be an important concern for all Californians. When an impaired driver carelessly causes a serious or fatal accident, they should be held accountable for the injuries and damages to the victims and those family members left behind. An attorney with experience at handling DUI accident cases can make a fair assessment of these claims. Mr. Ralph has more than 21 years years of experience handling traffic collision cases. He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE
CONSULTATION.
Have you or a loved one been seriously injured in an accident caused by an impaired driver?
Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above. This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter. A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.
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