The streets of Monterey can get busy any time of the week, but weekends see the most visitors as people try to enjoy the sand and the sunshine. Tourists and local residents can encounter a higher volume of traffic trying to get in and out of downtown.
There are always plenty of careless drivers to contend with, but, sadly, there are often drivers who are traveling after having too much to drink. Their perception of the road can be impaired raising the chances of a dangerous accident.
The California Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) recorded 1,343 vehicle accidents in 2020 across Monterey County. Those accidents left 1,872 victims injured and caused a total of 49 fatalities. Astonishingly, more than half of those tragic deaths in Monterey County in 2020 were attributed to alcohol-related crashes.
Deciding to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol puts other drivers and passengers at extreme risk. The heartbreaking consequences can include severe injury and even the loss of a precious life.
Three Vehicle Crash in Monterey Involves Drunk Driving Suspect
A multi-vehicle accident in central Monterey caused at least one injury and left investigators in search of a hit-and-run suspect Sunday evening. KION-TV reported the accident occurred around 7:30 p.m. near the intersection of Del Monte Avenue and Camino El Estero on June 6, 2021.
The Monterey Police Department says that three vehicles were involved in a collision. There were people injured in the accident, but it’s unclear how many and how badly they were hurt. Upon arrival at the site of the accident, officers learned that one vehicle involved had left the scene.
Two men in the vehicle were apprehended a short distance away near the intersection of Pearl Street and Cortes Street. The driver, an 18-year-old man from Salinas, was found to have three times the legal limit of blood alcohol content.
The drunk driving suspect was booked in the Monterey County Jail on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, hit and run causing injury, and driving on a suspended license.
Finding Support for Victims After a Monterey Car Accident
Victims hurt in an accident involving a driver suspected of being under the influence can wonder about the best path towards getting help in recovery. Those injured can face the incredible costs associated with ambulance response, emergency room care, and a long hospital stay. Those costs can include weeks of expensive physical therapy and perhaps surgery in the future.
A DUI suspect can be facing criminal charges and a criminal trial and victims can wonder how this will affect their bid to get assistance. The good news is the criminal trial and the victim’s civil claim for damages will proceed separately.
The victim will file a claim for damages against the at-fault driver’s insurance provider and seek to get medical expenses covered and reimbursement for lost wages from the insurance provider.
Contact a Monterey Car Accident Lawyer
After an accident involving a serious injury anywhere in Monterey County please talk to an experienced car accident lawyer before taking a call from any insurance representatives. Insurance companies will be looking for ways to weaken your case against them and they can use any recorded statement you provide them to try to discredit your account of an accident.
To make sure you aren’t victimized a second time, contact attorney Martin Gasparian for a free case evaluation that comes with no obligation. Mr. Gasparian takes a hands-on approach to every case. He believes that clients should work directly with their lawyer, get honest advice and the personalized attention to detail their case deserves.
