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United Effort Announced Against Holiday Drunk Driving

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in
christmas party drinksThis holiday season, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and California law enforcement agencies have a stern message for drivers: Drive sober or get pulled over. In December 2013, drunk driving accidents claimed the lives of 98 California motorists and caused serious injury to more than 1,800 drivers and passengers. In December of the following year, 788 drunk driving related deaths were reported across the U.S.the equivalent of one fatality per hour.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign

California is participating in the NHTSA’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. The campaign is part of a national effort to crack down on incidents of drunk driving on U.S. roads and highways. From December 18th through January 3rd, the California Highway Patrol and state law enforcement agencies will be increasing patrols to combat drunk and impaired driving during the holiday season. The California Highway Patrol will also be setting up various driving under the influence (DUI) checkpoints across the state, as well as dispatching numerous, highly-trained officers who are skilled at detecting driver impairment due to drugs or alcohol.

National Efforts Against Drunk Driving

As part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, the NHTSA will be running drunk driving awareness advertisements in movie theaters across the country in conjunction with the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Over the span of a two-hour film, two or more people lose their lives in a drunk driving accident, and the NHTSA hopes to impact millions by airing the ads along with the seasons most highly-anticipated movie. The ads will play before the films beginning, and they will also be aired on television and through other digital media outlets.

Designated Driving App

The NHTSA encourages anyone who is drinking this holiday season to plan a sober ride home before going out to celebrate. The administrations SaferRide app, available for Android and Apple devices, can be used to contact a cab, Uber, or a sober friend for a safe ride home. If you or a loved one has been injured in a collision involving a drunk driver, the Sacramento accident lawyers at Arnold Law Firm will work diligently to secure the justice and compensation you deserve.

Call (916) 777-7777 to schedule a FREE review of your case.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.