Car accident attorneys can explain damage recovery options after DUI crashes in San Diego.

California – May 10, 2021

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that approximately one-third of all U.S. traffic deaths are alcohol-related to some degree.  Driving under the influence (DUI) may have caused an accident in San Diego County leaving two motorists gravely injured according to a California Highway Patrol representative.  The accident occurred when a 56-year-old Valley Center man lost control of his 2008 Ford F-450 on Valley Center Road near Lilac Road veering off the roadway, hitting a fire hydrant, returning onto the roadway and crossing into the median strip where he struck two trees and crossed into the northbound lane where he subsequently collided head-on with a 2018 Lexus ES350.   Both drivers were transported to the hospital with serious injury and alcohol may have been a causal factor to the crash.  A California personal injury attorney can answer accident victim’s questions regarding damage recovery options.

Car Insurance and liability. 

Car insurance is a requirement for California drivers and provides a means to cover costs related to harmful losses resulting from a car accident.  California law recognizes responsibility for any part of negligent acts that lead to injury of another person, and insurance compensation is adjusted in accordance with the percentage of fault assigned to each driver.  A San Diego injury lawyer can assist victims with the valuation of damages after an accident that will usually include economic and non-economic damages.  There are rare instances when punitive damages are awarded and an accident attorney can explain the possibility of punitive damages for individual cases when DUI is involved.  

Criminal charges may impact damage award.

Criminal charges range from misdemeanors to felony offenses, and penalties for impaired driving can include driver’s license revocation, fines, and jail time.  Insurance companies may take an arrest for a DUI offense causing a car accident into consideration before paying out any claims for accident victims.  Consultation with experienced car accident attorneys is a prudent option to make certain that all avenues of fiscal recovery are addressed. 

Seek immediate medical screening.

Accident victims should seek medical screening with a doctor, or hospital after an accident, regardless of obvious personal injury.  In many cases, a person who does not believe they were injured and has no injury noted by the naked eye, may have sustained significant damage, including brain injury, spinal injury, or other internal damage.  Medical personnel must run diagnostic testing to determine if the accident victim has been cleared of these possible injuries.  Traumatic brain injury, concussions, or other brain conditions should be ruled out after a car accident to prevent further harmful losses  to the victim.  A personal injury lawyer will use these reports to build a case for damages.  

Hire an attorney. 

Seek counsel at Jeffrey E. Estes & Associates immediately after an auto accident for guidance in the recovery of harmful losses that may include hospital and medical bills, lost wages, property damages, future care for residual injury, and pain and suffering.  Accident attorneys will assist with the completion of insurance and legal documents toward the recovery of damages.  

Jeffrey E. Estes & Associates, a Professional Law Corporation
501 West Broadway, Suite 1650
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-233-8021
Fax: 619-233-3730

Sources.

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/insurance-requirements/

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB1785