CALL 916-777-7777
Youtube Facebook-f X-twitter Linkedin-in

Sacramento County DUI Resources

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in
Arnold Law Firm, Sacramento County DUI Lawyers, share the following DUI resources and statistics so that personal injury clients understand that there are two legal systems which remedy personal injury claims arising out of DUI accidents. While our firm will help you address the civil, financial, medical and insurance related consequences of your DUI accident, the driver will also face criminal prosecutions and repercussions. Many of our clients feel victimized by the DUI drivers who have derailed their lives. This brief summary is intended to provide context to the criminal DUI cases that the driver who hurt you will be navigating. The goal of our Sacramento personal injury attorneys is to restore our clients and to empower them after a personal injury motor vehicle accident.

California DUI Laws

Though the actual penalties for driving while under the influence may vary, there are general guidelines, including:
  • The legal BAC limit is .08.
  • Commercial drivers have a BAC limit of .04.
  • Implied consent laws require individuals to take Breathalyzer tests. Refusal may lead to a fine and an automatic license suspension.

California DUI Penalties

Potential DUI penalties depend on the precise nature of the accident and arrest. Judges are allowed to exceed the minimum penalties and in especially egregious cases, they will do so.
  • 1st conviction: over 1,000 fines and fees, 48 hours in jail, license restrictions for 3 months, alcohol-treatment programs, license suspension.
  • 2nd conviction: 10 days in jail, license suspension for one year, and escalating fines and fees.

California DUI Statistics

  • In 2011, over 180,000 DUI arrests occurred in California.
  • Nearly 10% of DUI arrests are DUI reckless driving arrests.
  • Over 1,000 individuals die from DUI related motor vehicle accidents each year.
  • 35% of car accident fatalities in California involve intoxicated drivers.
  • In 2011, 175,000 licenses were suspended.
  • Over 350 juvenile license were suspended in 2011.

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.