A festive night enjoying the holiday sights turned into a horrible nightmare recently when a group of California revelers were injured in an accident caused by a suspected drunk driver. The crash was a gruesome reminder that dangerous driving can change the lives of others in the blink of an eye.
According to reports, a 28-year-old man was arrested after he crashed into two parked cars that then hit 13 pedestrians who were out looking at holiday lights in the neighborhood. Each of the bystanders suffered injuries and it is possible that one or all of them will take legal action against the driver, who wasn’t even supposed to be behind the wheel.
The man was driving with a revoked license. He had lost his license after being cited numerous times for drunk driving. His license had been suspended twice in recent years and was ultimately revoked last year after separate drunk driving crash.
All of the victims survived the most recent crash, but a dozen of them suffered injuries that required hospitalization.
Drunk driving accidents during the holiday season are unfortunately not uncommon in California. Many people are out at parties or taking advantage of time away from work, which can all involve drinking alcohol. It can also be a difficult time of year for people who struggle with addiction or depression and turn to alcohol to cope.
But none of these factors is an excuse for getting behind the wheel after drinking, especially if a person does not have a license. Holding drivers accountable for the damages caused by these actions may be an option for every victim of a pedestrian accident in California. In order to assess the compensation that may be available, accident victims can discuss their case with a personal injury attorney.
Source: Los Angeles Times, “13 hit as they look at holiday lights; driver has DUI history, no license,” Joseph Serna and Veronica Rocha, Dec. 15, 2014