In the late summer, a 13-year-old boy ended up in the hospital with critical injuries after trying to cross Verdugo Road in Glendale. According to a witness, the teenager had the pedestrian crossing light when he started moving across the crosswalk at about 7:50 p.m. A Subaru was driving about 35 to 40 miles-per-hour and failed to stop at the crosswalk. The car hit the pedestrian, who was transported to the hospital and was later reported to be in critical yet stable condition.
The driver of the Subaru stopped at the scene, and law enforcement officers determined the driver was impaired. The immediate investigation reported that the driver had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.30 percent, which is almost four times the California legal limit of 0.08 percent. In addition, the driver had a prior DUI conviction.
Drunk driving accidents in Glendale
Even though every single driver should fully understand the extreme dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol, people in and around Glendale continue to get behind the wheel after they have too much to drink. As a result, pedestrians and other drivers continue to suffer injuries—sometimes fatal—at the hands of drunk drivers.
Drink drivers can cause all types of accidents, including:
- Pedestrian accidents
- Car crashes
- Bicycle collisions
- Motorcycle accidents
Drunk drivers can also be involved in single-vehicle crashes, such as rollovers, that lead to injuries to passengers.
Even a drink or two can impair your driving abilities. Here are just some of the ways that alcohol affects the brain while driving:
- A lack of focus on the road
- Slowed reaction time
- Blurred vision
- Lack of proper judgment
Drunk driving behavior can vary wildly. Some intoxicated drivers are overly cautious to a fault, driving far too slowly, obstructing traffic, or making dangerously slow decisions. Others are far too aggressive and fast, pushing their car well past the speed limit and making sudden, “jerky” movements behind the wheel. In extreme drunk driving incidents or other forms of impairment, the driver may lose connection with the reality of the road altogether, leading to wrong-way accidents that can result in deadly head-on collisions. Finally, as was the tragic case in this recent event, drunk drivers often fail to watch for pedestrians or bicyclists, who are particularly vulnerable to serious traumatic injuries in a crash.
DUI convictions and personal injury claims
When police officers suspect that a driver involved in a crash is impaired, they can perform a breath test to determine the driver’s BAC. If they are over the legal limit, the police will arrest the driver, who will then likely face criminal charges for DUI. Many accident victims believe that a DUI conviction will result in compensation for their medical bills and other losses.
Unfortunately, the criminal system exists mostly to penalize offenders, and the assistance to victims can be minimal. Instead, accident victims must take separate legal action to seek full financial recovery from the injuries and damages caused by an intoxicated driver.
A conviction is still important, as it can demonstrate that a driver was negligent and responsible for the accident without the need for additional evidence. This means that you would only have to prove the value of your losses to prevail in your case. No matter what the circumstances of your specific case are, you want the right attorney by your side.
Contact a Glendale personal injury lawyer if you’ve suffered injuries from a collision with a drunk driver
At the law firm of Blair & Ramirez LLP, our personal injury attorneys regularly handle traffic accident cases involving drunk drivers and many other types of unlawful behavior behind the wheel. We know how to hold negligent and dangerous parties liable for the injuries they cause, and we help our clients recover maximum compensation for their losses. If you have suffered a personal injury in a collision in Glendale, CA with an impaired driver, please do not wait to call our team at (213) 568-4000 or contact us online for a free, no-commitment case evaluation.