Car accidents are, unfortunately, a somewhat common occurrence along the busy roadways of California. When an accident occurs, at least one driver is oftentimes held responsible for causing the accident. A driver is usually held responsible because they exhibited negligent behavior. A driver’s behavior is negligent when it falls below the minimum standard of care that all drivers are required to use when operating a motorized vehicle.
A car crash that recently occurred in California left one individual fatally injured, and another six individuals injured as well. The accident was reported to authorities shortly before 2:00 in the morning. The two vehicles that were involved in the accident were traveling southbound prior to the collision.
The two vehicles collided at an intersection after the front driver slowed abruptly. The driver of the second car, following very closely, slammed on the brakes and turned to the left. One of the vehicles ultimately ended up on its side while the other landed in brush on the side of the road.
A 16-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Her fatal injuries resulted from being ejected from the vehicle. In this case, the accident did involve at least one negligent driver. That individual was a 19-year-old drunk driver. This 19-year-old was arrested and booked for suspicion of DUI felony manslaughter.
That is just the criminal charge associated with this accident. Given the magnitude of injuries that resulted, the drunk driver may also hold liability to the other injured parties in a civil personal injury lawsuit. In these types of lawsuits, the negligent party often owes compensation to the injured parties to cover their medical expenses and sometimes other additional financial obligations that the injured party is dealing with as a result of the accident.
Source: NBC Southern California, “Driver Arrested in Crash That Killed Teen in Orange County,” Jonathan Lloyd and Toni Guinyard, Sept. 9, 2013
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