[10-26-2024] Kern County, CA – Santa Maria Resident Killed After Suspected DUI Pedestrian Crash on Highway 46

A Santa Maria resident was fatally struck in a suspected DUI-related crash on Highway 46 in Bakersfield on Saturday night, October 26, 2024.

The California Highway Patrol reported that officers responded to a crash involving an unknown object at around 8:41 p.m. on Highway 46, east of Kecks Road.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the victim, a male from Santa Maria, was walking near the eastbound number one lane of Highway 46 when he entered the lane directly in front of an oncoming vehicle.

The vehicle, a 2014 silver Lincoln Navigator driven by a 52-year-old Bakersfield man, was traveling eastbound in the same lane. The driver was unable to avoid the pedestrian, resulting in a fatal collision.

The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver and passengers in the Lincoln were unharmed. CHP indicated that alcohol or drugs appear to have played a role in the incident, and an investigation into the exact cause is ongoing.

Call Our Respected DUI Accident Victim Lawyers In Bakersfield, CA

Feelings such as fear, wrath, or suspicion following a DUI accident are normal. The negligent party is responsible for paying the damages sustained by the victim, including medical bills, missed wages, and other financial expenses. Getting compensated for a DUI accident can be challenging, but our Bakersfield injury law firm can help.

Get legal advice from our experts in DUI accidents, under the direction of Arash Khorsandi, Esq., who can help you assess your case. Additionally, they can assist you if obtaining further information or a police report proves challenging.

Our respected Bakersfield DUI accident victim attorneys will do everything possible to advocate for your claim and safeguard your rights. Being one of California’s largest law firms specializing in personal injury cases, Arash Law has successfully obtained over $750 million in compensation for clients.

To arrange a free initial consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys, please call (888) 488-1391 or fill out our “Do I Have a Case?” form.

Ways To Protect Yourself After Being A Victim of A DUI Accident In Bakersfield, CA

Insurance companies often handle claims related to accidents caused by drunk driving. It’s essential to understand that their primary concern is their financial interests—not your full and fair compensation. They are driven by profit, not by the well-being of you and your family.

After a DUI accident, you might receive a phone call or inquiry from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Be cautious when responding to these requests.

Our Bakersfield DUI accident attorneys have compiled the following tips for dealing with insurance companies after a drunk driving crash:

1. Stay Calm And Contact The Authorities. Prioritize getting prompt medical care and immediately contact the authorities to report any injuries you’ve sustained.
2. Gather Information. Take photos of your injuries and any evidence of negligence, and document the incident thoroughly. Be sure to collect contact information from any witnesses at the scene.
3. Do Not Admit Or Accept Blame. In DUI cases, insurance companies often try to shift some of the blame onto the injured victim to reduce their liability and, consequently, the compensation they have to pay. Never admit fault or accept responsibility for the accident. The intoxicated driver should be held accountable for their actions. Avoid discussing fault with an insurance adjuster, as this is a common mistake following any vehicle accident.
4. Avoid Making A Statement. You are not obligated to provide a recorded statement to the insurance company immediately after the accident. Insurance adjusters may call you repeatedly, seeking a statement. Their goal is simple: to gather information that could be used against you during the claims process. Remain silent. Your words could be manipulated or taken out of context. Let your attorney handle all communications with the insurance company.
5. Avoid Early Settlement Offers. In DUI accident cases, insurers may struggle to completely avoid liability. As a result, they often attempt to minimize the amount of compensation they offer. One common tactic is to present a quick, lowball settlement to the victim. Do not accept a settlement that falls short of what you deserve. Let your DUI accident attorney negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.
6. Do Not Sign Any Documents. Before signing any documents from the insurance company, seek legal advice. Insurers often ask injured individuals to sign a broad release of their medical records. They may claim that a document is ‘standard procedure,’ but their true intent is to gather information to reduce your compensation. You may not be required to provide full access to your records. Your attorney will ensure your rights are protected.
7. Work With Experienced DUI Accident Lawyers. You don’t have to face a large insurance company alone. A substantial amount is at stake in most DUI accident injury claims, and insurance companies will go to great lengths to minimize your settlement. To protect your rights, engage with skilled DUI accident attorneys in California before dealing with the insurance company.

I HAD AN ACCIDENT

DUI Accident Statistics

According to the NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis, in 2020, there were 11,654 fatalities resulting from motor vehicle traffic crashes involving at least one alcohol-impaired driver, accounting for 30% of all traffic fatalities in the United States that year. This marked a 14.3 percent increase in fatalities due to alcohol-impaired driving, rising from 10,196 in 2019 to 11,654 in 2020.

On average, one fatality related to alcohol-impaired driving occurred every 45 minutes. The age groups of 21 to 24 years and 25 to 34 years had the highest percentages of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes, with each group representing 26 percent of such incidents in 2020.

The highest percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers in fatal crashes was among motorcycle riders at 27%, followed by drivers of passenger cars at 23%, light trucks at 19%, and large trucks at 3%. Among the 1,093 traffic fatalities in 2020 involving children aged 14 and younger, 21 percent (229 fatalities) occurred in crashes involving alcohol-impaired driving.

Additionally, 67 percent (7,831) of the 11,654 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities involved crashes where at least one driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 g/dL or higher. Notably, the rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes was 3.1 times higher at night compared to during the day in 2020.