[10-10-2021] Merced County, CA – 50-Year Old Man Badly Injured After a DUI Crash in Stevinson

50-year old Joseph L. was severely injured after being struck by another individual suspected to be driving under the influence, which happened on 3rd Avenue and Edminster Road, west of Stevinson, on October 10, Sunday.

The man suspected of DUI was later identified as Mario Alberto H., 31, who was driving a GMC Sierra at the time of the accident. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) was called to the scene around 1:45 p.m. on 3rd Avenue and Edminster Road, west of Stevinson, where the unfortunate incident took place.

The collision occurred when the victim’s 2002 Dodge Caravan traveling east on 3rd was struck by a 2000 GMC Sierra headed south on Edminster, causing the GMC to overturn, according to Merced-area CHP officer Eric Z. Hernandez allegedly failed to stop at a posted stop sign and yield to traffic at the intersection with 3rd Avenue, according to authorities.

Lewis was flown to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto for treatment of major injuries. Meanwhile, Hernandez was not injured in the accident, and he was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving, according to Zuniga. Hernandez was taken to Mercy Medical Center in Merced for medical clearance before being booked into the Merced County Jail, where he was in custody on Monday in lieu of $200,000 bond, according to jail records. Local authorities are still investigating the collision.

Fatal DUI Collisions Statistics

Each and every one of us deserves to drive on safe roads. Unfortunately, some irresponsible and careless drivers endanger the lives of others. In California, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities increased by 16.3% from 2015 to 2016. In 2016, 15% of drivers killed in automobile accidents tested positive for legal and illegal drugs.

Intoxicated drivers put the lives of others — and themselves — in grave danger. While California and the United States have made significant progress in drunk driving prevention, there is still a long way to go. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 30 people are killed every day in the United States due to drunk driving accidents. Drunk driving is responsible for roughly 29% of all accidents in the United States.

According to a 2017 NHTSA report, California has surpassed New York as the state with the second-highest number of drunk driving fatalities, with approximately 1,120 DUI crashes. When a drunk driver is involved in an accident, the chances of serious injuries are much higher. The reason for this is that drivers with disabilities are more likely to engage in risky driving behavior. Many DUI-related accidents involve high-speed vehicle collisions.

Merced County Personal Injury Attorney for DUI Accident Victims

Dealing with a fatal DUI accident can be devastating and stressful for the victim’s family. Trauma and grief can have a long-term impact on your life. Victims and their families may not completely recover from their injuries or forget the horrendous situation; however, they may still be able to obtain justice and compensation as a result of the accident.

You and your family deserve the best California DUI victims lawyer on your side following a tragic traffic accident. In Arash Law, we are proud to represent the victim’s family aggressively. Our law firm neither represents the defendant nor serves insurance companies. We use our skills, knowledge, and legal experience to fight for injured victims’ interests.

Our California DUI accident attorneys can assist you in building a strong and effective legal case. In drunk driving accidents, relevant evidence can appear in a variety of forms. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please get in touch with one of our offices in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, Riverside, Orange County, or San Diego. You can also contact us for free legal advice by calling our toll-free number (888) 488-1391.