California Injury Blog
A man was killed in a Los Angeles car accident involving a hit-and-run driver, who officials say, was under the influence of alcohol. According to a report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred on 10th Street West near Avenue J-8 in Lancaster the night of April 29, 2011. Isidro Peralta, 25, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after he was stopped at a DUI checkpoint.
Officers who were running a sobriety checkpoint not far from the accident scene, observed blood and significant front-end damage on Peralta’s 1996 Ford Mustang and retraced his route until they located the fatally injured victim lying on the roadway. Peralta has been booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter, felony driving under the influence and felony hit-and-run.
My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the man killed in this fatal hit-and-run car accident. My thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.
Los Angeles DUI Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), three people were killed and 59 were injured in Lancaster DUI collisions. During that same year, there were 258 fatalities and 4,832 injuries reported due to alcohol-related crashes in Los Angeles County.
Violation of Laws
Based on this news report, not only was Peralta driving under the influence of alcohol, but he also struck and killed a man and left him lying on the roadway. What kind of a person injures another human being and leaves them on the street to die? Appalling! I’m absolutely relieved that this hit-and-run driver was apprehended. Leaving the scene of an injury accident is not only inhumane and immoral, but it is also illegal under California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a).
It is also against the law to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. According to California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a): “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.” A driver whose act of driving under the influence results in the death of another will likely face vehicular manslaughter charges under California Penal Code Section 191.5 (a).
Protecting Victims’ Rights
The family of a victim killed in a DUI collision may pursue financial compensation for their loss by filing a wrongful death claim. Compensation may be available for losses such as medical expenses, funeral bills, lost future wages and loss of companionship. A skilled Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will advise victims’ families about how their car insurance policy might apply to an incident where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured. For more information about the dangers of driving under the influence, please visit the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) web site at www.madd.org.
Lost a family member in a Los Angeles County hit-and-run car accident? Want to know your rights? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation? Want justice? Want to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to another family?
Call your best friends in the legal industry after a fatal Lancaster pedestrian accident. Call 800-259-6373. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.
Call a Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your rights by attorneys who have been representing families of deceased accident victims since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a compassionate and understanding law firm in a comfortable environment.