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California is committed to reducing roadway deaths caused by impaired drivers. The Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) recently released the state’s comprehensive plan for reducing impaired driving in the Golden State in 2022. There are several key areas that the government is addressing to reduce this deadly behavior on our roads.
It is also important for injury victims to seek accountability from impaired drivers for the injuries they cause. If they are ultimately held responsible for causing a crash, it may deter other drivers from making similar choices in the future. That could not only save lives but also help an injury victim uphold their right to be compensated for their injuries and losses. Learn more about how California injury lawyers can advocate for your legal rights after an impaired driving accident.
Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk driving remains a widespread and fatal issue in California. The OTS reports that one out of every four roadway fatalities across the state has involved alcohol. This trend has continued year after year for a decade. In spite of criminal charges, traffic citations, and revoked driving privileges, some drivers choose to continue placing innocent lives at risk by driving while drunk. This is despite the fact that doing so is easily avoidable, especially now that Uber and Lyft are widely available throughout the state.
Anyone can use their phone to hail a ride exactly when and where they need it. Of course, you can still also call a cab, call a friend, or designate a driver for the evening. Accident victims have the right to seek compensation for injuries caused by a drunk driver. A California injury law firm will advocate for its clients to pursue compensation for their losses and see that drunk drivers face the consequences of their actions.
Drugged Driving Accidents
The opioid epidemic has also increased drugged driving throughout the country. According to the OTS, one in five traffic accidents in California involves drugged driving. Impairment behind the wheel is common with opioids, narcotics, and other medications that are known to affect a person’s cognitive abilities. Other medications can also affect a person’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
From a legal standpoint, these are tricky cases. It is not commonly clear whether a driver should have known that their medication affected their driving abilities. Arash Law has seasoned litigators who know how to establish what a medication does to the body, how a driver was impacted by their medication, and why a driver should have known not to drive after taking a prescription medication.
What The State Is Doing To Reduce Impaired Driving In California
So what, exactly, is the state doing about these deadly problems? Many areas of improvement can help make our roads safer. The state has developed multiple task forces and commissions to study the problem, such as:
- The Impaired Driving Challenge Area
- The California Impaired Driving Workgroup
- The Statewide Opioid Safety Workgroup
- The Traffic Records Coordinating Committee
- The CHP Impaired Driving Task Force
The state is also focused on specific problems within the larger question of traffic safety. Data and records can provide helpful information about the best way to spend taxpayer dollars for road safety. Communications programs transmit lifesaving messages to the public. Prevention programs can also decrease the rate of impaired driving. These prevention programs include:
- The Responsible Beverage Service (including the Minor Decoy program to see which businesses unlawfully sell alcohol to minors).
- Transportation alternatives.
- Community-based programs at schools (including programs to conduct DUI court hearings at middle schools and high schools, to show kids the real consequences of impaired driving).
- Employment regulations for commercial drivers.
The state is also tackling the enforcement of existing criminal laws in several key areas:
- Expanding law enforcement officer training in field sobriety tests and drug recognition expert (DRE) certification.
- Publicizing high-visibility enforcement areas to deter impaired drivers.
- Improving curriculum, funding, and access to toxicology labs.
- Coordinating prosecution efforts between trained impairment officers and trained enforcement personnel who act as professionals in this area.
- Expanding training in DUI courts and probation teams to address the specific problem of DUI offenders.
- Enhancing administrative sanctions (such as license suspension and revocation actions).
- Post-conviction countermeasures to deter future drunk driving (like ignition interlock and treatment program requirements).
Your Legal Rights After Being Injured By An Impaired Driver
Many injury victims might not have dealt with an accident claim before and may not know all their legal rights. This may affect their ability to pursue compensation for their losses, such as when reviewing or negotiating settlement offers from insurance companies.
Others may find it challenging to estimate the potential value of their claim and demonstrate the extent of their damages to an insurer, a judge, or a jury. You do not have to tackle these tasks alone if you have been injured by an impaired driver. If you’re eligible to file a compensation claim for all your injuries and losses, that means you have the right:
- To consult with an injury lawyer.
- To ask your own attorney about the potential value of your case.
- To require the insurance company to speak with your lawyer, and not you, about your claim.
California Injury Lawyers For Impaired Driving Accidents
Our skilled accident lawyers have decades of experience handling various types of auto accident claims. Whether you were injured by a driver who was impaired by alcohol, prescription drugs, street drugs, or any other substance that affects their ability to operate a vehicle, our California injury law firm is here to advocate for your rights. You can search online for “California accident attorneys near me” to read some of our firm’s reviews.
We serve clients in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Riverside, Bakersfield, Santa Barbara, San Jose, San Diego, Fresno, Sacramento, Sherman Oaks, and all across the Golden State.
Call (888) 488-1391 to schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced California accident attorney.
