Interstate travel along busy stretches of the South Bay can be hazardous under the best of conditions. Careless drivers cause accidents every day, but when thoughtless drivers choose to get behind the wheel while under the influence of a drug or alcohol, the devastation they can cause can hardly be called an accident. They make a decision to put anyone they travel with and around at risk.
Santa Clara County emergency responders work these DUI accidents all year long. California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) recorded 581 accidents involving a drunk driver in Santa Clara County across 2020. Those accidents left 800 victims injured and claimed a tragic 12 lives for the year.
Passenger Killed and Driver Injured in DUI Crash in Cupertino
A DUI suspect was arrested after a woman was tragically killed late Friday night in Cupertino. CBSN-TV reported the tragedy took place around 11 p.m. on Interstate 280 near Wolfe Road on May 14, 2021.
The California Highway Patrol says they found two vehicles on the scene. A Nissan Ultima had come to a stop after hitting a tree. A female passenger was killed in the impact. The man driving the Ultima was transported to the hospital with major injuries.
A Nissan Sentra was also found on the scene with front-end damage. No occupant could be found. About an hour later the driver was located nearby. The Sentra’s driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and was taken to Santa Clara County Jail. Officers confirm the man has two previous DUI convictions.
Securing Help for Victims and Families After An Accident in Cupertino
Accident Victims and their families can end up facing the extreme consequences of a DUI accident. Surviving victims can be forced to complete a long and difficult recovery requiring thousands of dollars in medical treatment. Doctors, surgeons, and physical therapists could all be needed to bring back some normalcy to the victim’s life.
Victims are permitted to file a claim for damages against an at-fault driver’s accident insurance provider. This claim can replace money lost to hospital charges now and in the future. The civil claim can also ask for reimbursement for paychecks missed at work along with many other hardships.
For families left behind to deal with the emotional anguish of losing a loved one, the financial strain can also be enormous. The costs of ambulance fees, burial services, and estate settlement may be enough to send close family members to the brink of bankruptcy. The family will also be trying to deal with these expenses after losing the financial support the deceased had always provided.
Of course, an at-fault driver’s insurance company should never be let off the hook for providing the support for victims that’s only fair. Family members can file a wrongful death claim to request assistance from an insurance provider and officially demand that they do the right thing after a tragedy caused by their policyholder.
Contact a Cupertino Car Accident Lawyer
If an accident leaves you or a loved one the victim of a reckless driver, contact attorney Martin Gasparian for a free case evaluation that comes with no obligation to your family. Mr. Gasparian takes a hands-on approach to every case and works to protects victims and their loved ones from the predatory practices of insurance companies.
