Three Injured in Novato Car Accident
An alleged drunk driver in Novato struck a pedestrian and hit a parked car, injuring four people on May 20. The driver, a 40-year-old woman, was arrested and faces multiple charges in the accident. The names of the accident victims have not yet been released.
What Happened?
The accident occurred about 4:30 in the afternoon along Feliz Road where it connects with Simmons Lane. The female driver lost control of her vehicle and struck a 70-year-old pedestrian and the parked car. The elderly pedestrian suffered injuries from the collision that were described as moderate and was taken to a hospital for treatment, where he is expected to recover. Two of the individuals who were in the parked car at the time it was struck were injured and were also taken to a hospital for medical treatment. The driver who caused the car accident faces numerous charges, including causing injuries and DUI.
Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk driving is responsible for approximately one-third of all fatalities seen in motor vehicle accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2014, almost 10,000 people died due to DUI crashes. However, in the same year, only 1 percent of drivers who admitted to driving drunk were actually arrested. That translates to 1.1 million arrests for 121 million self-reports of driving while impaired.
Of the nearly 10,000 fatalities, 64 percent involved a person with a BAC level at or above .08 percent, the standard for impairment. Fifteen percent of those killed in drunk driving accidents were occupants in the impaired driver’s vehicle, while 12 percent were drivers or passengers of other vehicles involved in these accidents. Pedestrians accounted for another 8 percent.
Thirty-three percent of drunk drivers in 2014 were between the ages of 21 to 24 with the next largest age group represented by drivers 25 to 34. In addition, 29 percent of motorcyclists who were killed in the same year were impaired.
Of the 1,070 children who died in motor vehicle crashes in 2014, 19 percent were killed in drunk driving accidents. Out of this number, 56 percent were in the vehicle with the drunk driver.
Impact of Drunk Driving Accidents
The financial impact of drunk driving accidents in 2014 was $44 billion. This includes:
- Medical expenses
- Legal costs
- Loss in the workplace
- Damaged property
- Insurance cost
- Home health care cost
Attorney Ed Smith
Novato Drunk Driving Accident Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith and I’m a Novato personal injury lawyer. Car accidents can result in emotional and financial loss for the family of an injured or deceased victim of a drunk driving accident. If you have been injured or lost a family member, please contact our injury lawyers at (415) 521-2515 in Novato. If you are out of the area, you can reach us at (800) 404-5400 for friendly and free advice.
You are welcome to read what my clients and other lawyers have to say about me on Yelp, Avvo, and Google.
I’m a California member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. This forum represents leading trial lawyers in the U.S. with settled cases or verdicts that were $1 million or more.
You can also read my Verdicts and Settlements of prior cases.
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