San Luis Obispo County has a variety of terrain that can make for a challenging trip for even careful drivers. Winding curves and a rise and fall of elevation can require the full attention of motorists to ensure they don’t lose control and always remain within the lines.
That task is made even more difficult when someone does the unthinkable and gets behind the wheel while impaired by drugs or alcohol. The weaving that an intoxicated driver can engage in can send a vehicle outside the white lines and off the road, or across the yellow lines to meet oncoming traffic head-on.
The consequences of a collision can leave victims with severe injuries and in heartbreaking cases, claim a victim’s life.
DUI Accident in San Luis Obispo County Kills One Man
A man from Atascadero was tragically killed and a woman badly hurt after a collision in San Luis Obispo County near Avila Beach Friday Afternoon. The San Luis Obispo Tribune reports the accident took place around 3 p.m. near the intersection of San Luis Bay Drive and Apple Orchard Lane on August 6, 2021.
The California Highway Patrol says a Ford Pickup crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a Mercedes van head-on. The 72-year-old man driving the van died on the scene. A female passenger in the van, a 65-year-old woman also from Atascadero, suffered major injuries. She was rushed to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo.
California Highway Patrol investigators say the man driving the Ford Truck, a 31-year-old from Nipomo, was arrested on suspicion of murder and causing injury while driving under the influence of drugs.
Support for Accident Victims and Family Members in San Luis Obispo County
Vehicle impacts can lead to severe consequences for victims. But those consequences can also target the family of victims. Close relatives who have lost a loved one can question whether justice can be found in an accident caused by a DUI driver.
Nothing can bring back a beloved family member, but the family can be protected from the financial hardships that an accident can bring. Close relatives can file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver to recover money spent on emergency response fees, funeral costs, and the expense of estate settlement. This civil lawsuit can move forward even as a DUI suspect faces a separate, criminal trial.
For surviving victims of accidents, a claim for damages can be made against the at-fault driver’s car insurer. This claim would need to ask for compensation for every hospital bill now and those expected for future care. It could also seek support for physical and emotional pain experienced by victims and their families.
Contact a San Luis Obispo County Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a careless or reckless driver, please contact a San Luis Obispo Car Accident Attorney. There are rights that you have and benefits available to your family that an insurance company won’t be alerting you to. Make sure you have a legal expert on your side to ensure you get the most compensation available for what you’ve been through.
After an accident contact attorney Martin Gasparian for a free and confidential case evaluation. Mr. Gasparian works to make sure victims and family members receive the support they need to get back on their feet after a tragedy.
