Northern California Accidents Involving Underage Drunk Drivers Lawyers
Northern California Accidents Involving Underage Drunk Drivers
When an underage, intoxicated driver decides to get behind the wheel of a car, deadly consequences can result. Although laws prevent minors from consuming or legally possessing alcohol, accidents involving underage drunk drivers still occur. Underage drivers (teenage drivers, in particular) are four times more likely to be involved in an automobile collision than their older counterparts, reports the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
If you or a family member was involved in an underage drunk driving accident was the passenger of a car driven by an underage drunk driver, contact a northern California car accident injury lawyer at Estey Bomberger. Following an accident, our northern California underage drunk driver lawyers will thoroughly investigate how the underage drunk driver accessed alcohol and pursue financial compensation from the negligent party or parties. Compensation may include money for medical bills, loss of quality of life, and pain and suffering.
Social Host Liability in Accidents Involving Underage Drunk Drivers
A host who serves free alcohol at a barbeque, birthday party or other social gathering in a private home may be financially liable in a northern California accident involving underage drunk drivers. If a host knowingly served or supplied alcohol to an at-risk individual, such as serving alcohol to a minor, and that individual causes an accident, the host may be responsible for the accident. Our northern California car accident lawyers mission is to help victims hold the negligent host accountable for their actions to prevent further senseless injuries and deaths.
Signs of Alcohol Abuse
If a minor close to you has been exhibiting unusual changes in their behavior, it may be a sign of alcohol abuse. The signs of alcohol abuse can be subtle and include:
- Abundance of breath mints or mouthwash (to mask the odor of alcohol)
- Aggressive or rebellious behavior
- Missing bottles or cans of alcohol
- Doesn’t care about former interests or appearance
- New group of friends
- More secretive than normal
- Missing school or work
- Borrowing money
- Slurred speech, bloodshot eyes.
Accidents Involving Underage Drunk Driver Statistics
Although teen drivers represent a small percentage of the nation’s total drivers, they are responsible for a high percentage of automobile collisions, injuries and fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 23 percent of teenage drivers who were involved in a fatal car accident had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level above the legal limit of .08 percent. The Center for Disease Control found in a 2007 study that nearly half of all teenagers polled had consumed alcohol on a regular basis and nearly 50 percent were consuming five or more drinks in one sitting. The federal government’s Office of Applied Studies estimates that more than three million people aged 12 to 20 abuses or is dependant on alcohol.
Call Estey Bomberger 24 Hours a Day
You can reach a northern California accidents involving underage drunk drivers attorney at Estey Bomberger 24 hours a day. Our personal injury attorneys will review your case and inform you of the legal options available to pursue compensation for you or a loved one’s injuries or wrongful death. Contact us today at (800) 890-6722. All consultations at Estey Bomberger are free and completely private. If we represent you in your claim, we will not charge any fees unless we recover money for you.