California Injury Blog
Four people including an infant sustained serious injuries in a San Francisco car accident, which officials say was caused by a suspected drunk driver. ABC News reports that 24-year-old Faustino Vega-Xicohtencatl was traveling west in a 2004 Ford F-150 on Mark West Springs Road near Santa Rosa the evening of March 2, 2010, when he lost control of his vehicle and crossed into opposing lanes of traffic.
He struck a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer head-on critically injuring its driver, 21-year-old Carron Boyd. Randal C. Hinojosa, 22, a passenger in the Mercury suffered minor injuries. His 8-month-old daughter, Allesandrya Hinojosa, sustained severe head injuries and was taken to a local hospital. One other driver, who was involved in the crash, was fortunately uninjured. Police arrested Vega-Xicohtencatl on two counts of felony drunk driving. He was also charged with driving without a valid license
My heart goes out to the family of Baby Allesandrya for what they are going through right now. I wish the child and the severely injured Carron Boyd the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep them in your prayers.
DUI Collisions
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were five fatalities and 98 injuries reported as a result of DUI collisions in Santa Rosa, in 2008. In Sonoma County as a whole, 17 deaths and 264 injuries occurred due to alcohol-related crashes during the same year.
Claims for Compensation
California law prohibits drivers from operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher. California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) states: “It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle.”
In such cases, it would be in victims’ best interests to contact a reputedSan Francisco personal injury lawyer who will stay on top of the investigation and hold the negligent parties accountable. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will be able to advise victims about how their own car insurance policies apply to accidents involving uninsured or underinsured motorists.
The Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.