Suspected drunk driver leads police on chase, injures 5 in crash

Car accidents are a problem throughout the country, including California. This was shown in a recent incident, whereby police are continuing to investigate a chase and crash, which authorities are blaming on drunk driving. The car crash, which happened after county law enforcement officials pursued a driver, involved two vehicles and caused damage to a residential property near the road.

Apparently, the driver fleeing from the police, a minivan, struck a car during the course of the chase, leaving five people trapped. All five victims were taken to nearby hospitals, and police described the condition of two victims as “critical.” It was not clear why police were trying to stop the minivan in the first place.

If the police are correct in their suspicion that the driver of the minivan involved was intoxicated, then the driver will likely be facing serious criminal charges. However, even if the driver winds up getting convicted, the criminal charge will not necessarily mean the victims get compensation for their injuries. In order to get compensation, they will have to file a separate personal injury case against the driver. The victims will likely allege the driver was negligent or even reckless since he or she was too intoxicated to operate a vehicle safely and chose to elude the police.

Hopefully, the driver of the minivan had insurance adequate to cover the medical expenses, lost wages and other legal damages which his victims can claim. If not, each victim may have to go to his or her own insurer and seek uninsured motorists benefits, assuming if course that they purchases this type of coverage.

Drunk driving accidents can be particularly frustrating since they are so preventable yet, in many cases, victims have a hard time getting full compensation for their losses due to circumstances largely beyond their control. A qualified personal injury attorney who serves the Los Angeles and Southern California area can be helpful in alleviating some of this frustration.

Source: NBC 4, “Suspected DUI driver leads police in pursuit, several people injured during crash,” Kristina Bugante, Aug. 11, 2017