Repeat offender convicted of murder for DUI accident resulting in fatal injury in San Diego.
California – January 7, 2022
A Spring Valley resident was convicted of murder for crashing his car on SR 94 while DUI of methamphetamine and Xanax resulting in the fatal injury of one his passengers and sentenced on December 1 to 15-years-to-life in state prison. He was found guilty of causing the 2018 death of a 24-year-old passenger and bodily injury to another and the murder conviction was a result of a prior DUI conviction in 2011. The vehicle he was driving at the time of the accident crossed onto a dirt shoulder near Sweetwater Springs Boulevard, hit a guardrail, became airborne and overturned according to California Highway Patrol. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that approximately one-third of all U.S. traffic deaths are alcohol-related to some degree. A California personal injury attorney can answer accident victim’s questions regarding damage recovery options.
Car Insurance and liability.
Car insurance is a requirement for California drivers and provides a means to cover costs related to harmful losses resulting from a car accident. California law recognizes responsibility for any part of negligent acts that lead to injury of another person, and insurance compensation is adjusted in accordance with the percentage of fault assigned to each driver. A San Diego injury lawyer can assist victims with the valuation of damages after an accident that will usually include economic, non-economic damages and can file insurance claims to expedite funds for unexpected funeral and burial costs. There are rare instances when punitive damages are awarded and an accident attorney can explain the possibility of punitive damages for individual cases when DUI results in fatal injury.
Criminal charges impact damages.
Criminal charges range from misdemeanors to felony offenses, and penalties for impaired driving can include driver’s license revocation, fines, and jail time. Insurance companies may take an arrest for a DUI offense causing a car accident and death, into consideration before paying out any claims for accident victims. Consultation with experienced car accident attorneys is a prudent option to make certain that all avenues of fiscal recovery are addressed.
Wrongful death.
A wrongful death legal action can be brought by loved ones when a person dies because of the negligent, reckless, or deliberate act of another. Damages in these lawsuits can include:
- Medical bills and burial expenses
- Compensation for lost wages
- Compensation for the pain and suffering
- Punitive damages that are intended to punish the person who caused the death.
Hire an attorney.
Seek counsel at Jeffrey E. Estes & Associates immediately after an auto accident causes fatal injury to a loved one for guidance in the recovery of harmful losses that may include hospital and medical bills, future lost wages, property damages, and pain and suffering. California wrongful death accident attorneys will assist with the completion of insurance and legal documents toward the recovery of damages on behalf of surviving loved ones.
Jeffrey E. Estes & Associates, a Professional Law Corporation
501 West Broadway, Suite 1650
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-233-8021
Fax: 619-233-3730
Sources.
https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/insurance-requirements/
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB1785
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