A recent drunk driving-caused five-vehicle pileup on Highway 101 near El Sueno Road that sent four people to the hospital highlights the serious dangers brought to the roads of California by drunk drivers every year.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an average of 30 people die in car crashes caused by drunk driving every day in the United States. Despite continued crackdowns by police through patrols and DUI checkpoints, drunk driving remains a grave danger on the road.
No matter what time of day or season it may be, stay on the lookout for drunk drivers. Telltale signs of drunk driving include:
- Swerving within a lane or into another lane
- Sudden braking or accelerating
- Near misses with other vehicles/objects
- Excessively wide turns at corners
- Driving onto the shoulder, opposite side of the road, or median
Negligent and impaired motorists should be held accountable for the injuries they cause. That’s why attorney Renée J. Nordstrand and the legal team at the Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand are dedicated to aggressively seeking compensation for our clients when they have been injured in automobile accidents that were not their fault. Additionally, due to the illegal nature of drunk driving, crash victims may be entitled to punitive damages punishing at-fault parties for their wrongful actions.
Attorney Nordstrand is currently representing a man who was hit by a drunk driver and suffered a rotator cuff injury to his shoulder. The drunk driver had insurance policy limits of $100,000 and attorney Nordstrand was able to convince the insurance company to offer the $100,000 policy limit. Unfortunately the victim had minimal underinsured motorist insurance policy limits of $15,000, so although his claim may have been valued at more than $100,000, there was no underinsured motorist coverage available. Most people do not have adequate insurance coverage, so it is important to be sure you have good uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
If you believe you have a case, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our experienced and knowledgeable drunk driving accident victim attorneys to discuss your legal options. You can call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530. Or contact us online. Your consultation is free and completely confidential.