Eureka Man Among Injured in DUI crash
I’m Ed Smith, a Eureka car accident lawyer. A Eureka resident was hospitalized recently after receiving injuries in a collision that authorities suspect was caused by a driver under the influence of alcohol.
Accident Details
According to information provided by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the collision occurred at about 9:30 p.m. in Southern Trinity east of Eureka.
Authorities reported that a 26-year-old male resident of Granite Bay, California, had been driving his sports utility vehicle at a high rate of speed along Lower Mad River Road a short distance south of the Ruth Campground. The SUV had been driving south but officers indicated that the vehicle drifted into the northbound lane after entering a curve.
After the SUV drifted into the northbound lane it collided with an oncoming pickup truck being driven by 33-year-old Eureka resident Chandler Trosky. Further details about the collision were not available.
Injuries
CHP immediately sent emergency medical responders to the site of the accident after hearing that one or more individuals may have received traumatic injuries. Responders discovered that the driver of the SUV had sustained major injuries and had him transported by helicopter ambulance to the Mercy Medical Center in Redding.
Responders found that the occupants of the pickup truck had also sustained injuries and both were taken to the Redwood Hospital in Fortuna by ground ambulance. Medical officials stated that neither the driver nor the passenger of the pickup sustained severe trauma.
Arrest
CHP’s report indicated that the driver of the SUV was arrested at the scene of the crash on felony charges of driving a vehicle while intoxicated. After his arrest, the man was released into an emergency hospital care facility because of his severe injuries.
DUI and Liability
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 10,000 people die in DUI accidents every year, accounting for almost one-third of all traffic-related fatalities that occur in the United States.
Drinking affects the central nervous system which slows reaction times and impairs judgment. Drivers under the influence of alcohol are less able to make collision avoidance maneuvers and more likely to drive carelessly. Because of this, those who choose to drive while drunk are considered to be negligently operating their vehicles.
In the event of an accident, the law dictates that negligent drivers can be held liable to pay for the damages that they have caused. However, drunk drivers aren’t the only parties with liability in the case of a DUI collision. People or businesses who supplied the driver with access to a vehicle or alcohol knowing that they would drive drunk are often also liable to pay for damages.
More from Ed Smith, Eureka Car Accident Lawyer
Eureka Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a car accident lawyer in Eureka. If you’ve been seriously injured by a drunk or otherwise negligent driver, call (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice with no obligation. You can also reach me through my website, AutoAccident.com.
Since 1982, I have helped Eureka residents who are dealing with personal injury and wrongful death claims receive the full repayments they are owed.
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