Accidents on Carver Road and Tuolumne Drive Involved Suspected Drunk Driving
Two drunk driving collisions in Modesto on January 16 resulted in major injuries. The first incident, according to a traffic sergeant with the Modesto Police Department, happened at the intersection of Carver Road and Briggsmore Avenue when a witness spotted a Chevrolet Camaro. It was traveling around 90 mph along Carver Road northbound at around 12:30 a.m. The Camaro then ran through a red light and struck a Nissan Maxima heading east on Briggsmore.
Two Women Hospitalized in Intersection Crash With Major Injuries
The Nissan driver, a Modesto woman, age 69, and a Waterford woman, 35, who was riding in the Camaro reportedly suffered injuries described as major. The police sergeant reported that the Waterford woman had suffered multiple bone fractures. Firefighters were called to the scene and worked for more than half an hour to extricate the woman from the vehicle. The Camaro driver, a Modesto man, age 47, was uninjured but placed under arrest for suspicion of DUI.
Modesto Man’s Vehicle Overturns After Striking a Curb
The second crash occurred around 8:00 p.m. when a Honda Civic was traveling west along Tuolumne Boulevard near Highway 99 and exited the roadway. The driver, a Modesto man, age 47, apparently struck a raised portion of the sidewalk, which caused the motorist to lose control and the vehicle to overturn. The rollover accident ejected the driver, but he was trapped underneath his vehicle in a ditch.
Drunk Driving Suspected in Modesto Man’s Rollover Accident
A good Samaritan stopped to help and pushed the car back onto its wheels, which freed the driver. That driver also sustained major injuries and was hospitalized. The Honda driver is suspected of having been driving under the influence, and charges against him are expected to be placed once he has been released from the hospital. The name of the injured driver has not been released because he has not yet been formally charged with DUI.
The Dangers of Drunk Driving
Drunk drivers do not have the cognitive ability or reflexes to safely handle a vehicle. Although tough measures by law enforcement and public education have helped reduce the number of drunk drivers on the road, they still continue to be a danger. Some of the reasons a drunk driver is dangerous on the roads include:
- A drunk driver feels more relaxed behind the wheel of a car, which can lead to falling asleep.
- A drunk driver’s vision is impaired and affects their ability to track objects.
- Reaction time is reduced in the impaired driver, which means it takes more time for them to react in an emergency situation.
- Impaired drivers have more trouble understanding what is going on around them.
- Drunk drivers are much less likely to obey the rules of the road, which keep others safe.
- Impaired drivers have problems multi-tasking such as applying the brakes or making a turn while steering.
- The ability to concentrate is reduced.
- Drunk drivers can be overconfident in their ability to handle a vehicle. That’s why they get behind the wheel of a car to begin with.
Recovering Compensation Following an Accident Caused by a Drunk Driver
If the driver who caused your accident injuries is convicted, that provides strong evidence to support your claim for compensation. Over the years, we have successfully handled many claims against drunk drivers. It is our belief that it is difficult enough to be injured by a negligent motorist. The injured party should never be responsible for the financial losses that it causes. Whether in person or virtually, we offer a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case, answer your questions, and tell you about available options to recover damages.
Modesto Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Modesto car accident lawyer. For free and friendly legal advice on whether you can file a claim for compensation after an accident caused by a drunk driver, please contact us. You can reach us at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400. We can also be reached online.
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Photo attribution: Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay
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