San Diego DUI Accident Lawyers
Fighting to Obtain Justice

Drinking and driving is always a bad decision, and when looking back on this conduct the only way to determine the severity of this type of decision is based on the harm that was caused. The worst-case scenarios when someone drinks or ingests some other intoxicant and gets behind the wheel are those that involve getting into a California DUI accident that leads to injuries, fatalities or both.

When these situations arise, the driver who is guilty of a DUI in California faces both significant criminal liability from the police and prosecutors but also could face significant civil liability in the form of monetary damages from those who were injured or the families of those killed in the accident. Below is a brief overview of this issue followed by information regarding how you should proceed if you or someone you love has been injured by a California drunk driver and needs the help of a California DUI accident lawyer.

California DUI Accident Fatality Statistics

In recent years, both the number of people killed in California auto accidents and the number of people killed in California DUI accidents has gone down slightly, which is obviously good news and could reflect the effects of intense public service campaigns that have been waged by many different groups both public and private in nature.

However, the percentage of people killed in California auto accidents in which alcohol was a factor remains nearly constant. For instance, in 2006 approximately 36 percent of those killed in California auto accidents suffered their fate at least partially because of alcohol. By 2008, more than 300 fewer people were killed in California DUI accidents, but the percentage of those killed in these accidents as part of the overall fatality total remained at 35 percent.

What This Means in a California Personal Injury Lawsuit

If someone is injured or killed in a California auto accident where it's proved that the defendant was driving under the influence of alcohol or some other intoxicant, such proof is sufficient to show negligence on the part of the driver as it would be in a criminal trial. In addition to the 'per se' proof of negligence that this evidence provides, people who are harmed by a drunk driver can also pursue punitive damages in a California DUI accident personal injury action. Punitive damages are designed to both punish the offender and to send a message to the public that such conduct will not be tolerated.

If you or someone you love has been harmed in a California DUI accident, you need to take action by contacting an experienced California DUI accident lawyer who understands how to hold those responsible for harm accountable. Contact Mitchell | Gilleon today to schedule a free initial consultation.