Suspect Charged in Merced County DUI Accident
I’m Ed Smith, a Merced car accident lawyer. The Merced County District Attorney’s Office has announced the charges filed against a suspect that allegedly caused a DUI accident on March 25, 2018. The suspect, a 21-year-old San Jose woman, has been accused of driving her 2015 Honda while intoxicated and crashing her vehicle head-on with a Nissan carrying three Nevada Union High School students. Unfortunately, two of the students succumbed to their injuries in the crash while one surviving student sustained a hip fracture and facial injuries. The suspect is facing two counts of gross vehicular homicide while under the influence, a misdemeanor charge of drug possession and six felony DUI charges.
Losing someone you love is never easy, and my sincere condolences are with the friends and family of the two who died during this difficult time. I would also like to wish for a speedy and full recovery for the third party that suffered serious injuries in the crash.
Common Causes of Head-On Collision
The most severe type of traffic accident is one involving a head-on collision. These crashes are catastrophic in nature due to the area of impact compounded by speed traveled by each car. Some of the leading causes of these collisions include:
- Distracted Driving
- Drunk Driving
- Driving while Fatigued
- Reckless Driving
- Speeding
Car Accidents and Injuries
A car accident can cause a wide array of injuries such as:
- Bone Fractures: Also known as broken bones, these often occur as a result of a motor vehicle accident, sports injuries and slip and fall accidents. Symptoms can include discoloration of the skin, swelling, and pain around the area of damage.
- Brain Injury: These are among the most critical type of injury an individual can suffer. Ranging from blows and minor lacerations to the head to a traumatic brain injury. Any kind of trauma to the head can significantly alter a person’s way of living, especially when mounting medical expenses are thrown into the mix.
- Dashboard Knee: Often called knee injuries, this happens when an individual slips out of their safety restraints in a collision and slams their knees against the dashboard of the vehicle. This impact can cause a fracture in the patella or lead to chondromalacia, damage or softening to the cartilage below the patella. Surgery may be necessary if the knee becomes unstable over time.
- Spinal Cord Damage: Injuries to the spinal column can vary in severity. Some common types of spinal cord injuries can include disc herniation, strains, sprains and even paralysis.
Any type of traffic accident can lead to severe repercussions. If the collision was caused by a negligent driver, the victims might be entitled to compensation for their financial losses. Contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer in Merced is crucial in examining your case and explaining your options to recover damages.
Related Content by Edward A Smith Law Offices:
Merced Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Merced car accident lawyer. Car accidents have the potential to result in severe or fatal consequences. If this has happened to you or someone you love, please contact me at (209) 227-1931 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.
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I belong to the Million Dollar Advocates as a California member. This forum is comprised of trial lawyers who have obtained one million dollar awards in client settlements or verdicts.
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