• 19
  • December
    2011

Recently, eight people were injured in a severe collision involving two drunk drivers.

The San Francisco car accident occurred just past midnight on a recent Monday morning, when a van carrying two occupants failed to stop for a red light at the intersection of 10th and Howard and crashed into a sedan carrying six people. All eight suffered injuries and at least two were in critical condition. The sedan's passengers had to be extricated from the vehicle using the Jaws of Life. Both drivers were arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.

California Drunk Driver Accidents

California drunk driver accidents are far too common. Every year, over 30,000 Californians are killed or injured in alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents. Perhaps the most tragic thing about these accidents is the fact that nearly all of them could have been prevented if the drunk driver had been responsible enough not to get behind the wheel.

Often times, drunk driver accidents result in catastrophic injuries. Because the accidents are frequently caused by drivers who make unsafe lane changes, cross the center line or run red lights or stop signs, they are more likely to involve sudden impacts at dangerous speeds.

The victims of drunk driver accidents do have recourse under California law. Victims can sue the drunk driver to recover costs such as medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. It is not necessary for the drunk driver to have been charged with DUI in order to win a lawsuit.

In some cases, the victims of a drunk driver accident may also be entitled to punitive damages. Punitive damages are not intended to compensate a victim for actual losses, rather, they are designed to punish the drunk driver and discourage future inappropriate behavior. Punitive damages can be up to ten times the amount of actual damages.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle, "8 Hurt in Alleged SF Double Drunken Driving Crash."