Although the holiday season can be a wonderful time of year, full of celebration, it can also be a dangerous time of year especially over the New Year’s holiday weekend. New Year’s Celebrations often include drinking, and far too often people make the dangerous and reckless choice to drive while intoxicated.
This was true over the New Year’s holiday weekend here in California. The Los Angeles Times reported that 36 people died in DUI related car accidents over the holiday weekend, which spanned from December 28, 2018 to January 2, 2019. Four of those killed were pedestrians. California Highway Patrol stated the death toll was higher than last year, as only 23 people were killed over the 2017/2018 holiday. In Los Angeles County, one person was killed, which was down from the six killed the previous year.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the four-day holiday period included maximum enforcement of DUI driving laws. This led to the arrests of 1,140 drivers statewide who were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. CHP officers stated that, “although that’s an increase from the previous year’s 936, this year’s holiday span was a day longer because New Year’s Day fell on a Tuesday.”
It is certainly tragic that any of these accidents occurred, as DUI crashes and the deaths they cause are totally preventable. As we head into the new year, we encourage all drivers to make New Year’s resolutions that include safe transportation after alcohol consumption. There are many options available that can help drivers avoid driving while intoxicated in the New Year. A few include: Using a ride-sharing app such as Uber or Lyft to get home, planning ahead by selecting a designated driver, or taking public transit.
If you or someone you love was injured or killed in a Southern California DUI related accident over the holidays, you should contact an experienced personal injury and wrongful death attorney immediately. If you are injured by a driver who carelessly chose to drive while intoxicated, that driver will be liable for your injuries. In this case, a skilled personal injury attorney would assist you in filing a personal injury claim. Financial recovery from a personal injury claim can help cover hospital bills and other physical recovery expenses, including loss of wages if you are unable to work.
If a loved one was killed in a DUI related accident, due to the fault of another, family members can bring a wrongful death claim against the driver on the victim’s behalf. A wrongful death claim allows the family members to obtain financial recovery for the unexpected medical bills and funeral and burial costs. They may also be able to get loss of earnings damages.
If you are dealing with injuries or the death of a family member as a result of a holiday DUI accident, the skilled attorneys at Walch Law can help. We have years of experience handling both personal injury and wrongful death cases that result from DUI accidents. We are available to meet with you in a free consultation to discuss your options and give you direction on how to proceed. Contact us online or by phone at 866-465-8792.