Stockton DUI Accident Fatally Injures Toddler
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton, personal injury lawyer. A single-vehicle accident along Wilson Way near Hazelton Avenue ended with the loss of life and the arrest of an alcohol-impaired motorist on April 27, 2018. At approximately 8:05 pm, a 28-year-old man was driving his vehicle when he reportedly crashed into a pole. The impact allegedly caused the pole to impale the front windshield of the car and strike a 2-year-old toddler seated in the back of the vehicle. The toddler was transported to a local hospital and succumbed to their injuries during treatment. Another passenger in the car, identified as a 4-year-old girl, was uninjured in the collision and turned over to a family member who arrived at the scene. The driver was arrested after being found with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.11 and booked into the San Joaquin County Jail. He has been charged with child endangerment, felony driving under the influence (DUI) and DUI causing great bodily injury.
I would like to extend my condolences to the loved ones of the child who passed away in this tragedy.
Drunk Driving
When an individual consumes alcohol, many of the skills that are required to drive safely become impaired. These skills include reaction time, coordination, comprehension, visual acuity, concentration, and judgment. The legal limit for alcohol-impaired driving in California is a BAC of 0.08. Drunk driving is accountable for nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities in the United States, and most of these impaired motorists tend to be repeat offenders.
Injuries from Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk driving causes many car accidents each year and results in traumatic injuries and fatalities. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 800 people suffer injuries daily as a result of impaired driving crashes. Some of the injuries commonly sustained in these accidents include:
- Amputations: The removal of a limb is known as an amputation. Some amputations may be the result of a medical condition while others can be caused by trauma, such as being severed in a traffic accident.
- Bone Fractures: This is a medical condition involving a partial or complete break in a bone’s continuity. Some of the common fractures that occur in high-speed traffic accidents include fractures to the skull, pelvis, spinal column, ribs and upper and lower extremities.
- Head and Brain Injuries: A head injury involves any type of damage to the skull, scalp or brain. This injury can range from a minor bruise or bump to a traumatic brain injury, both of which can require a long path to recovery.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: These can result from trauma to the cells of the spinal cord or the severing of nerve tracts that relay signals within the spinal column.
- Wrongful Death: Suffering internal organ damage in an accident can result in significant blood loss further leading to wrongful death.
Many of the injuries sustained in drunk driving accidents require long-term hospitalization and rehabilitation. An individual who has suffered severe injuries in such accidents can face financial problems from mounting medical expenses and lost wages. If this has happened to you or a loved one, it is essential to secure your right to fair compensation by reaching out to an experienced personal injury attorney in Stockton.
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Stockton Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton, personal injury lawyer. The consequences of drunk driving are endless. If you or someone you love has suffered injuries in an accident involving an alcohol-impaired motorist, please call me at (209) 227-1931 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly case advice.
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Please visit our Verdicts and Settlements page to see how our firm has resolved past cases for clients.
Photograph Courtesy: By “Kat Jayne” via Pexels
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