On Wednesday night a young man and woman in their twenties were killed when a speeding driver slammed into their car in Inglewood near Los Angeles International Airport. The collision occurred at around 10.40 pm on 28th April at the intersection of Glasgow Avenue and Olive Street. The driver was believed to be under influence of drugs.
The California Highway Patrol (CHF) officers were pursuing a pick-up truck that had run a red light before getting onto the 405 Freeway.
The CHP officers followed the truck onto the freeway and tried to pull it over. However, the driver refused to stop and exited the freeway and continued to speed along the streets before T-boning the victims’ car. The crash was captured on the surveillance video.
The victim’s sedan was badly mangled and had to be cut in half to get the victims out. The male driver was badly hurt and rushed to the local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
The 22-year-old female passenger was identified as 22-year-old Asia Gonzales, was killed on the scene. The suspect, 42-year-old Gustavo Ruelas Jr. has a past criminal record.
When the truck was seized, drugs were found in it. The suspect tried to flee the scene post the crash but was caught in a matter of few minutes. Ruelas suffered minor injuries and was expected to face multiple charges.
DUI accident (Driving under the Influence)
Driving under the influence can cause serious injuries or fatality, it is a criminal offence. More than 1,000 drunk driving deaths are recorded in California every year. Statistics show that DUI is responsible for around 29% of California’s traffic fatalities.
DUI not only includes driving after alcohol consumption, driving after using illegal drugs like marijuana, or legal drugs like prescription or over-the counter-medications is also considered DUI. Many prescription drugs may impair the driver’s ability to drive safely as they may include a drowsy formula. Driving a vehicle while being impaired is a crime and can attract a fine of up to $10,000 in California.
Civil damages for DUI accidents
In California, if a person is injured in a car accident due to another driver’s negligence or fault, the person is entitled to receive compensation that covers the costs for medical treatment and surgeries if any, costs for loss of wages or income, and non-economic damages for pain and suffering.
However, if the accident involved a driver who was drunk or driving under the influence of drugs, additional elements are considered while determining the damages.
Driving under the influence (DUI) is a crime as per the California Vehicle Code §23152a. If a driver is arrested for DUI then they are automatically considered to be negligent.
California DUI Accident Lawyer
Victims of DUI accidents and their families can file a claim for compensation for any injuries and other damages sustained in the accident. With the expert guidance and support of our team of California DUI accident lawyers, you can be compensated for all your financial losses and non-economic losses like pain and suffering too.
Furthermore, if the suspect is proven to be legally intoxicated we can also help you pursue punitive damages against the accused. Do not get coaxed or persuaded by insurance adjusters or strike a deal with them without consulting professional personal injury lawyers.
We at Khashan Law are professional personal injury lawyers who have been successfully representing victims of car accidents over the last several years. Get in touch with us today at 951.461.2387 for a free and confidential consultation