Deadly Drunk Driving Accident
An intersection accident in the vicinity of the Pavilions Shopping Center and Sacramento State University killed one person and injured another on November 26. I want to take this opportunity to offer my condolences to the decedent’s family and friends for their loss.
Accident Details
The accident happened on the intersection of Howe Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard in the early morning hours. A vehicle described as a black Mitsubishi, heading south on Howe, left the roadway and hit a utility pole. Law enforcement officers at the scene said that two people were in the Eclipse when the crash occurred. The male driver, said to be around 20, was injured in the crash. A woman passenger, identified as Patricia Reyes Perez, also around 20, died in the collision. Authorities have said that the female passenger was not using a seat restraint when the accident happened.
Accident Investigation
Authorities were at the scene investigating how the accident happened for several hours after the crash. Using video from traffic cameras, they were able to verify that the Mitsubishi was the sole vehicle involved. The driver of the Eclipse was placed under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Drunk Driving Accidents
One death every hour in this country is due to drunk driving. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 10,000 people died in 2015 alone. Sixteen percent of children killed in 2015, 14 years of age and younger, died because of an impaired driver. In addition to alcohol, marijuana-related incidents are increasing, particularly at night and on weekends. Both illegal and legal drugs are involved in another 16 percent of fatal crashes.
Drunk Drivers
According to statistical analysis, certain groups are more likely to be involved in drunk driving accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 30 percent of all drunk drivers are between the ages of 20 to 24 with 27 percent between 25 to 34 years of age. Motorcyclists were killed due to driving drunk approximately 27 percent of the time. Those between 35 to 39 were more likely to die in such crashes. Once a driver is convicted of drunk driving, they have a 450 percent chance of repeating the offense.
Intersection Accidents
The main cause of intersection accidents is recklessness and negligent behavior. Such behavior can include speeding, not paying attention to the roadway and impaired driving. The Transportation Department in the United States says that 43 percent of all accidents happen in intersections. In fact, about 20 percent of all fatal accidents happen in an intersection. While driver error is usually to blame in intersection accidents, some intersections are designed in a manner that might lead to accidents. In such cases, the county or state may be partially liable for damages.
Damages in Drunk Driving Accidents
When a drunk driving accident occurs, it is usually the impaired driver who is at fault. But, what happens when the driver is uninsured or underinsured? This places the person who is injured in a financially precarious situation. In such situations, if the injured party has uninsured/underinsured motorist protection, their own insurance company will pay. In California, an insurance company must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist protection. However, you can refuse to have this coverage, providing you sign a waiver. By having this insurance, you will be covered for both bodily injury and property damage.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident lawyer. If you have been injured in a car accident or if a family member was killed, you need an experienced injury lawyer. I am available to provide friendly advice that is free of charge. Call my office at (916) 921-6400 in and around Sacramento. You can also reach me at (800) 404-5400 toll-free.
I have been helping Sacramento residents and those in Northern California for more than 35 years. During that time, I have assisted them in wrongful death lawsuits, catastrophic injuries, and traumatic brain injury.
If you want to learn how I resolved other cases, look at my settlements and verdicts page. You can also go to Avvo, Yelp, and Google to read reviews and comments by former clients and my peers.
Don’t leave AutoAccident.com, my website, before you read more about personal injury law. I designed the site to give clients a full perspective on law topics.
Milliondollaradvocates.com is the address of a legal forum with members who have settlements and verdicts of $1 million or more. I am a California member.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/hospital-emergency-room-entrance-
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