Drunk Driver Arrested After Hitting Bedroom in Chico Apartment Complex
An alleged drunk driver hit a Chico apartment on North Avenue recently, rupturing a gas line. The accident happened around midnight and, according to the Chico Police Department, the officers at the scene shut the gas line off shortly afterward. Representatives from the city’s building department and PG&E also responded. Tenants were allowed to reenter the complex within an hour after the accident. No one was injured in the crash, which shut down North and East avenues for a brief period.
Additional Details About the Accident
The driver, 34, initially told police that someone else was operating the vehicle and left the scene after it crashed. Police determined that the driver was in control of the vehicle when the accident occurred. According to authorities, he was inebriated, and he was taken into custody on suspicion of drunk driving. Another driver who arrived at the scene while the crash was being investigated was also found to be driving under the influence of alcohol. Both he and the driver were taken to the Butte County Jail and booked.
The person whose bedroom was in the impacted area of the apartment was not at home. His cousin, who lives in the apartment above his, said that the crash was very traumatic for the entire family.
Why Drunk Drivers Lose Control of Their Vehicles
Aside from reduced reflexes, compromised visual acuity and lessening of cognitive function, drunk drivers often fall asleep at the wheel. This causes the vehicle to continue moving forward without anyone in charge of its trajectory. Frequently, the vehicle leaves the road and hits a stationary object such as a tree or veers into an adjacent lane or one with traffic moving in the opposite direction. The latter often results in a head-on collision.
Emotional Trauma After a Drunk Driver Accident
Physical injury is not the only type of trauma suffered by those involved in an accident. Emotional distress can be disabling and require medical care and years of rehabilitation to resolve. Some people are unable to return to work or interact socially the way they did in the past. In California, where it is possible to file a claim for emotional distress without physical injury, symptoms associated with it are:
- Anxiety
- Emotional trauma
- Mental anguish
- Depression
- Flashbacks
- Grief
- Insomnia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
In California, a claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress can be filed by those who were affected by the accident, even if there were no serious injuries if any at all. It can be filed by those not directly involved in the accident but also by bystanders who were traumatized by the events of the accident. The plaintiff must be able to prove the following:
- They were closely related to the person directly involved in the accident.
- The emotionally distressed person must be able to prove they were at the scene of the accident and cognizant of what happened.
- They suffered significant emotional distress.
How a Law Firm Can Help
The right to file a claim differs from one situation to another. That is why it is important to obtain the legal insight of an experienced attorney. At our law firm, we offer a free consultation either in person or virtually with my injury lawyer team, where we will review your case and see if you are able to file a claim. Once that criteria is established, we will look for evidence that confirms the liability of the defendant and put together a robust case.
Chico Personal Injury Attorneys
I am Ed Smith, and I’m a Chico personal injury attorney. If you were injured by a negligent party, you may have the right to file a claim for monetary compensation against them. Call me at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 for my free and friendly advice. You can also reach out to me online.
I’ve helped residents of Chico obtain the compensation they deserve in all types of car accidents, brain injuries, motorcycle crashes, and wrongful death cases.
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Photo attribution: Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay
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