Drunk Driving Accident Injuries

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is against the law in California, yet every day, 28 people across the country die in alcohol-related vehicle crashes. Indeed, the financial impact resulting from impaired driving costs the US economy around $52 billion per year. There is no debate that driving under the influence is dangerous for all drivers. Whether you drive a sedan, sports car, truck, or motorcycle, the risks associated with drunk driving or drugged driver are serious. Drivers who have had too much to drink put others in danger, but it is especially dangerous for truck drivers to engage in this type of reckless behavior.

The sheer size and mass of commercial trucks can make them deadly machines, as the average truck weighs 20-30 times the typical passenger vehicle. Unfortunately, innocent victims are injured in truck accidents in Whittier and throughout Los Angeles all too often. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident caused by drunk trunk driver, contact an experienced accident lawyer to discuss your legal rights.

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Substance Abuse Among Truck Drivers

Truckers are required to spend an inordinate number of hours on the open road, often up to 70 hours a week. Not surprisingly, fatigue and boredom often takes over and in order to keep their eyes on the road and make deadlines, truck drivers often turn to drugs and alcohol. Numerous studies show that truckers rely on alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, and marijuana to make it through their long driving shifts, even though there are laws in place that are aimed at limiting how long truck drivers can drive without taking breaks. Unfortunately, some drivers break these rules, sometimes with the encouragement of their employers. With this in mind, it is important to note that employers can be often be held liable for the financial damages caused by an inebriated truck driver.

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Truck Driver Accidents & Financial Recovery

Truck driver accidents can cause serious and long-lasting injuries to the victims involved in these crashes. Injuries like broken bones, concussions, even paralysis and death. If a trucker causes an accident where another driver, pedestrian, motorcyclist, or cyclist is injured, no matter how seemingly serious or not, the trucker should be held liable for the damages he causes.

This means that the injured accident victim can recover financial compensation from the trucker and, in some case, their employer for:

• Medical bills
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional suffering
• Lost wages
• Future wages

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Victims of Drunk Driving in California May Be Eligible for Financial Compensation

When people get behind the wheel when they’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol, innocent victims can be seriously hurt and even killed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one-third of all traffic related deaths in the United States happened because of a drunk driver. Tragically, around 16% of the individuals who die are children.

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Is there a recourse for the accident victims, or in the case of wrongful death, the victim's family? The answer is a resounding YES.

Victims (or their surviving family) of drunk driving accidents that happen in West Covina may be eligible for financial compensation if they file a civil lawsuit against the drunk driver with the help of an experienced accident lawyer. The victim or the family has the right to file a civil claim if a drunk driver is arrested for or convicted of a DUI or DWI. To see if you are able to bring a wrongful death claim against a negligent driver, speak with a wrongful death lawyer.

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There Could Be More Than One Defendant

While it’s obvious that the driver who got behind the wheel while intoxicated can be named as the defendant to a civil suit, there could be other defendants. If the drunk driver attended a party and drank too much, the host may be legally liable especially if it was clear that the driver had enough to drink and the host continued to give them access to alcohol. This is especially common around the holidays, when employers are hosting holiday parties, etc... A bar or restaurant owner or the staff may also be legally responsible for what happened. They have a legal responsibility to stop giving alcohol to someone that appears to be intoxicated. Discuss your specific case with a knowledgeable lawyer in West Covina.

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Compensation for Victims of Drunk Driving

Victims of drunk driving accidents and their surviving families may be entitled to compensation. Compensation may include money for medical bills (past and future), funeral expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In certain cases, you may also be able to recover punitive damages against the wrongdoer.

If you or someone you love was hurt or killed by a drunk driver, contact the experienced drunk driving accident lawyers at Ghozland Law Firm today for a free, no obligation consultation.

Drunk Driving Accident Victims Have Rights

drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol take to the streets. Studies show that the most traveled holiday period of the year is Thanksgiving weekend, and DUI arrests are at their highest between Thanksgiving and the end of New Year’s weekend.

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What's more, according to MADD

In 2013, 9.9 million people (3.8% of the population) reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs. This was highest among 18-25 year olds, where 10.6% reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs.

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When it comes to drunk driving

Every day in America, 29 people die as a result of drunk driving crashes. That’s one person every 50 minutes.

These numbers are tragic and avoidable.

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Pedestrians and DUI Crashes

It's not just other drivers and passengers who are at an increased risk of being injured in an auto accident on New Year's Eve. Indeed, pedestrian accidents tend to go up around this holiday. Thanks to Los Angeles' temperate winter weather, many partygoers decide to skip their cars and walk to local restaurants, bars, and parties.

While this may seem to be the safer option, and certainly it is from a drunk driving standpoint, it may not take into consideration drunk drivers who fail to see an individual or group of people crossing the street in a crosswalk. Or the drugged driver who takes to wide of a left turn and ends up on the sidewalk, hitting a group of innocent bystanders.

If you or a loved one are injured in a pedestrian accident in West Covina on NYE, know that the law and our experienced accident lawyers are on your side.

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Financial Recovery and NYE Car Accidents

For those injured by a drunk or high driver, you may have the right to recover financial compensation for your injuries. You can learn more about your potential for monetary compensation after being injured in a drunk driving accident here.

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Types of expenses that are recoverable include:

• medical bills
• hospital visits
• ongoing physical therapy
• lost wages
• pain and suffering

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This list is not exhaustive.  To discuss your specific case and potential for financial recovery with a knowledgeable lawyer, contact the attorneys at Ghozland Law Firm today for a free, no obligation consultation. For more information on what to do after you or a loved one have been injured in a truck accident, contact the experienced and proven accident attorneys at Ghozland Law Firm today.

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