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California Personal Injury Attorneys

Northern California Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys

Drivers who make the decision to drive while intoxicated or impaired are a potential danger to everyone they share the road with. In California, drunk drivers cause more than 1,000 auto accident road deaths each year. Thousands more suffer very serious injuries, including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and broken bones. Although the percentage of alcohol-related fatalities (out of the total number of traffic fatalities) each year in California has steadily decreased since the 1980's, drinking and driving continues to be a major problem. For the individuals who suffer permanent disability due to a drunk driver, or the parents who lose a child due to a drunk driver, a reduction in statistics is not enough. Motor vehicle accidents caused by drinking and driving must stop.

What is Driving Under the Influence?

Although the term DUI often refers to alcohol-related crashes, driving under the influence does not just mean the influence of alcohol. A DUI accident may include any substance that impairs a person's ability to drive a vehicle, including prescription medications, narcotics, amphetamines, prescription sleep aids, analgesics, compressed air "huffing," and even marijuana. At Estey Bomberger, our Northern California personal injury lawyers are concerned with seeing that justice is served for victims of all types of DUI-related accidents. We believe those that recklessly disregard the sanctity of human life and cause serious injury or death should be accountable and financially liable for the preventable injuries and suffering they cause.

What is the Law in California Regarding Drinking and Driving?

The statutes that set forth the drinking and driving causing bodily injury in California can be found in the California Vehicle Code. Under § 23153(a) (Driving Under Influence of Alcohol or Drugs Causing Injury), "It is unlawful for any person, while under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle and concurrently do any act forbidden by law, or neglect any duty imposed by law in driving the vehicle, which act or neglect proximately causes bodily injury to any person other than the driver."

Other sections of the vehicle code define and explain blood alcohol limits, laws involving commercial vehicle drivers, sentencing provisions, use of court-ordered ignition interlock devices, laws governing probation, and use of prescription drugs. Under California Vehicle Code § 23630, "The fact that any person charged with driving under the influence of any drug or the combined influence of alcoholic beverages and any drug in violation of Section 23152 or 23153 is, or has been entitled to use, the drug under the laws of this state shall not constitute a defense against any violation of the sections."

Who is Liable for a Drinking and Driving Accident?

All drivers clearly have a personal responsibility to not drive drunk. However, in some situations, liability for an injury or death in a DUI-related accident extends beyond the driver. For example, when a drunk driver causes an accident while driving a company car, the drunk driver's employer may be liable for an accident. If a bar or restaurant knowingly serves alcohol to a minor, and that minor causes an accident while intoxicated, the bar or restaurant may be liable. Under some county and city social host laws, adults who serve alcohol to minors at private at-home functions may also be liable for accidents caused by intoxicated teens. If you have been involved in an accident, the best way to find out who is liable is to discuss your case with an experienced Northern California car accident attorney.

Maximum Compensation for Victims of Drunk Driving Accidents

At Estey Bomberger, our Northern California drunk driving accident lawyers have a proven history of obtaining maximum settlements and verdicts for victims of drunk driving accidents. Because we have won challenging and complex cases, cases that other attorneys have turned away, we understand the unique legal issues that arise in injury and wrongful death claims involving DUI accidents. We have also handled numerous uninsured motorist claims involving accidents where drunk drivers did not have auto insurance. If you or a member of your family has been involved in an accident caused by a drunk driver, contact us today to discuss your potential case in a free consultation. We do not charge any fees to discuss your case, and if we handle your claim, we will not charge any fees unless we recover money for you.

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