[01-24-2022] Kern County, CA – Two People Hurt After a Hit-and-Run Crash Involving a DUI Driver in Taft

Two men were injured after a hit-and-run crash involving a suspected DUI driver on Tenth Street on Sunday evening, January 24, 2022.

The accident took place on the southbound lanes of Tenth Street in Taft at approximately 6:50 p.m.

A 2004 Ford Mustang rear-ended a 2022 Toyota Camry for unclear reasons. The circumstances leading up to the accident have not been established.

The Mustang driver did not stop to render aid and drove away from the scene. Meanwhile, two people inside the Toyota were taken to an area hospital after complaining of pain.

Authorities were later able to apprehend the Mustang driver. He was identified as Eliseo R. He was arrested on hit-and-run charges, driving under the influence, and driving without a license.

Local authorities are further investigating the case.

DUI Hit-and-Run Crash Statistics

Drunk driving is one of the most dangerous activities a driver can engage in. Drunk driving accidents injure almost 300,000 individuals in the United States each year.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 10,000 individuals are killed in drunk driving incidents each year. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drugs and alcohol are involved in roughly 18% of all fatal motor vehicle accidents.

The DUI driver clearly bears responsibility in this case, as he fled the scene of the accident. Accidents involving hit-and-run drivers are unfortunately not uncommon.

In the United States, there were 2,049 fatal hit-and-run accidents in 2016. In the United States, there were around 682,000 hit-and-run accidents per year. Hit-and-run accidents frequently involve pedestrians.

One of the most alarming aspects of DUI accidents is that they are disproportionately likely to result in fatalities or serious injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), broken bones, internal organ injuries, spinal cord injuries, and partial or complete paralysis.

Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers for Victims in Kern County

You must file a separate personal injury claim in civil court if you were injured in a DUI collision. Notably, some of the rules in civil court differ from those in criminal court. You should seek legal counsel from a local DUI victim attorney who can file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf in civil court.

Any material revealed in the criminal investigation, including a DUI conviction, can be used as evidence in your civil lawsuit by your counsel.

Aside from the legal obligations, it is also to your best advantage to speak with a California drunk driving accident lawyer as soon as possible following a collision. Not only will your lawyer ensure that you act before the deadline, but they will also be able to do a thorough investigation into the DUI accident, allowing you to present the most compelling personal injury case possible.

Arash Law’s Kern County hit-and-run accident attorneys will vigorously defend their clients’ rights and interests while ensuring that the guilty party is held accountable. Call (888) 488-1391 for a free consultation with a California personal injury lawyer.