[12-29-2023] Fresno County, CA – Seven People Hospitalized After DUI Crash on Willow Avenue

Seven people were hospitalized after a DUI collision in Fresno on Friday afternoon, December 29, 2023.

According to the Fresno Police Department, the collision occurred around 3:40 p.m. in the area of Willow Avenue and Olive Avenue.

A dark blue sedan was going westbound on Olive at a high rate of speed. The vehicle crossed the intersection at a red light and collided with a white vehicle that was making a left turn onto Olive.

Another vehicle was reportedly struck after the sedan rolled over. Seven people were transported to the hospital, including the sedan’s driver. Four of them sustained critical injuries.

As of Friday evening, their condition remains stable. A DUI investigation is underway for the driver of the blue sedan.

Authorities are gathering all the necessary information, and no further details have been released.

Expert Drunk Driving Accident Victim Attorneys in Fresno, CA

It is possible for a person to receive compensation if they have suffered damage due to the negligence of another person. The best legal advice should always be obtained from an experienced personal injury attorney when you are involved in a drunk driving accident.

Contact one of our drunk driving accident victim lawyers for an initial consultation. To prepare for the legal process, you will receive a free case evaluation that will provide an overview of the case, a discussion about the settlement, and a guide on how to file an insurance claim.

Seek advice from our Fresno DUI accident victim attorneys at Arash Law, under the direction of Arash Khorsandi, Esq., who are prepared to help you with your case or effectively represent you in court. We have recovered more than $750 Million for California clients and have earned a reputation as one of the best law firms in the state.

If you want to speak with one of our lawyers, please call (888) 488-1391 or fill out the “Do I Have a Case?” form.

Top 5 Ways to Protect Yourself After Being a Victim of a DUI

Insurance companies put an enormous amount of resources into training representatives to protect company interests. After a significant DUI accident, you may receive a phone call or inquiry from the responsible driver’s insurance company. Be careful when accepting this type of request. No matter how friendly they sound, an insurance adjuster is against you. They are not looking out for your best interests, and you cannot rely on them for advice.

You can deal with the insurance company in many ways after you have been injured due to drunk driving in California.

Here are the five most effective ways our esteemed California DUI victim lawyers recommend:

1. Never Admit or Accept the Blame. It is shocking to some people, but even in DUI accidents, insurance companies often try to push some of the blame onto the injured victim. If they can do so, it will allow them to reduce their liability. This means money is coming directly out of their pocket. Never admit or accept any of the faults in a DUI accident. A drunk driver should be held accountable for their misconduct. Victims should not discuss the issue of fault directly with an insurance adjuster.
2. Do Not Make a Statement. You have no obligation to give a recorded statement to the insurance company immediately after an accident. You are likely to get a bunch of calls from an insurance adjuster asking for a statement. Why does the company want one so badly? The answer is simple: they want to find information to use against you in the claims process. Keep quiet. Your words can be twisted or misinterpreted. Make the insurance company talk to you through your lawyer.
3. Avoid Early Settlement Negotiations. In DUI accident cases, insurers often try to avoid liability entirely. As such, they alter their tactics. In cases where liability is clear and obvious, insurers try to limit the value of an injured victim’s settlement. One common tactic is to offer a quick, lowball settlement to the DUI accident victim. Do not settle your claim for less than you are owed. Let your DUI accident attorney handle settlement talks.
4. Do Not Sign Any Documents. You should not sign anything from an insurance company without first consulting with California drunk driving accident victim lawyers. Often, insurers will ask injured victims to sign a full release of their medical records. Do not listen to their claim that a document is ‘standard procedure.’ They are looking for information to use to reduce your compensation. You may not be obligated to give them full access to your records. Your lawyer will make sure that your rights are protected.
5. Work Through Your Drunk Driving Accident Victim Lawyers in California. There is no reason to go up against a big insurance company on your own. There is a lot on the line in most DUI accident injury claims. Insurance companies will pour resources into finding ways to reduce your settlement. The single best thing that you can do to protect your rights and interests is to work with the insurance company exclusively through good California DUI accident lawyers. You have the right to legal representation. Use it.

I HAD AN ACCIDENT

DUI Accident Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk-driving crashes caused more than 37 deaths every day in 2021, about one every 39 minutes. In 2020, 13,384 traffic-related deaths were caused by drunk drivers, an increase of 14% from the previous year. The number of drunk driving deaths has averaged 10,850 per year since 2012.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) in 2020 found that approximately 4.6 million Americans age 16 and older drove under the influence. Among respondents ages 16 and older, alcohol accounted for 7.2%, marijuana accounted for 4.5%, and illicit drugs other than marijuana accounted for over 2.4 million.

The number of drug-impaired drivers killed each year cannot be estimated due to data limitations. The majority of drivers seriously hurt in crashes between September 2019 and July 2021 tested positive for alcohol or drugs.