Archive for the ‘ Drunk Driving Victims ’ Category

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18
Feb

New Program Designed To Prevent California Drunk Driving Accidents

February 18, 2013

California car accidents are listed as one of the leading causes of death amongst teens in the state. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has decided to combat this problem by hosting a series of programs titled Steering Kids Straight that is aimed at educating young drivers about the dangers they will face when on the road and how they might be able to prevent accidents from occurring.

According to CBS 8 News, the first installment of the program was conducted by several California high school students a few weeks ago and featured a mock crash scene portraying the deadly results California Drunk Driving Accidents can have. The scenario involved two vehicles that had collided due to a drunk driver. While students pretended to be killed and injured in the accident, another reenactment showed participants what it may be like if they were caught driving drunk. Over the next several months, students will continue to document what the outcomes of such an accident would be like.

The purpose of the program is to show teens the devastating effects poor decisions being made behind the wheel of an automobile can have.

The California Personal Injury Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers recognize how dangerous drinking and driving can be and are hopeful this program, and others like it, will be successful in teaching teen drivers the dangers of getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol.

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10
Dec

Drugged Driving Becoming A Major Concern In California

December 10, 2012

With the number of marijuana-related drugged driving accidents on the rise, many citizens are concerned about marijuana use and highway safety. CBS News discusses the problem and what law enforcement is doing to solve it.

Santa Cruz County seems to be at the center of the debate, with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reporting five of the eight fatal motor vehicle accidents in the area over the past year caused by drivers who tested positive for the drug.

Statistics show that drivers who smoke marijuana are twice as likely to be involved in accidents as sober drivers, and numbers from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence show that around 20 percent of drivers involved in accidents tested positive for marijuana consumption.

Officers say driving under the influence of marijuana can be extremely dangerous because of the drug’s effect on perceptions of both time and space.

To combat the growing problem, the CHP has begun an awareness campaign with the public to educate citizens about the dangers of drugged driving.

The California Personal Injury Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers say drivers are responsible for making the decision to not get behind the wheel after ingesting a mind-altering substance and failure to do so can be considered negligent in the event of a California Car Accident.

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5
Jun

New Programs Aim To Decrease Number Of Drunk Drivers in Northern California

June 4, 2012

Shasta County, California, has seen an alarming amount of drunk drivers so far this year, especially among minors. According to KRCRTV 7 News, 19 individuals were arrested over Memorial Day weekend, which is nearly a 20 percent increase from 2011.

The issue continued to affect locals following the holiday weekend. This past Friday, two people were seriously injured as the result of a crash caused by an underage drunk driver. Reports indicate that the accident occurred at around 6:45 p.m. at the intersection of Neal and West Sutter Roads. Police believe that an intoxicated 16-year-old driver lost control of a 1992 Nissan Pathfinder, causing it to roll several times. All four passengers of the vehicle were taken to local hospitals for treatment. Two remain hospitalized in serious condition.

In an effort to combat underage drinking and driving, students at Willows High School were able to witness the real-life sentencing of DUI offenders in the school’s gymnasium last week. Officials state that allowing the students to view the real-life consequences of driving under the influence impacts students much more than student reenactments. Following the hearings, students stated that they would definitely think twice before drinking and driving.

The California Accident Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers hope that programs such as these, along with law enforcement’s utilization of saturation patrols, will help reduce the number of California Car Accidents and deaths caused by drinking and driving.

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19
Mar

Redding Man Seriously Injured After Being Involved In Drunken Crash

March 19, 2012

A 27-year-old Redding, California, man is lucky to be alive following a single-vehicle crash early Thursday. According to reports from KRCRTV 7 News, alcohol was a contributing factor in the accident.

The crash happened just after midnight along Victor Avenue in Redding. Reports filed by the Redding Police Department indicate that the man was driving at more than 100 miles per hour through downtown Redding in his Toyota Tacoma pickup truck before slamming into a tree head-on outside of a local business. The impact of the crash caused the driver, who was not wearing his seatbelt at the time, to be ejected from the vehicle. Luckily, he survived and paramedics were able to transport him to Mercy Medical Center, where he remains in serious condition with massive head injuries and broken ribs.

The driver later admitted to police that he had taken prescription medications and had been drinking at a local bar prior to being involved in the crash.

Data gathered by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that speed played a contributing factor in 30 percent of all fatal crashes in a single year, while alcohol contributed to 39 percent.

These statistics are a major reason why the San Francisco DUI Injury Attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers ask that you refrain from getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. If every driver made this choice, thousands of lives would be saved every year.

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21
Feb

Drunk Driver Responsible For Redding Crash That Kills One

February 20, 2012

Police in Redding, California, say that a drunk driver is responsible for causing a tragic accident that injured himself and another passenger and left another man dead. According to reports from KRCR 7 News, the accident occurred at 10:20 PM on Juniper Knoll Road, just east of Macdoel.

Reports from the California Highway Patrol troopers who responded to the crash scene say that the driver of a 1995 Hyundai sedan was under the influence of alcohol when he lost control and rolled the vehicle several times.

A passenger in the backseat was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. He died at the scene of the crash. The driver and another passenger in the front seat were both wearing seatbelts and only suffered minor injuries.

The driver has been charged with driving under the influence and causing injury to another person.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that alcohol continues to be a lead contributing factor in fatal highway accidents nationwide, especially among young people. They say roughly one third of drivers between 15 and 20 years old who were involved in fatal accidents had been drinking.

The Northern California DUI Injury Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers ask that motorists do their part to keep everyone on the highway safe by not drinking and driving. Also, make sure that yourself, and all other passengers in the car, are buckled up before you begin driving.

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16
Jan

Several Tips To Keep Motorists Safe During High Speed Pursuits

January 16, 2012

High-speed vehicle pursuits down the highway gets our adrenaline pumping in the movies. But what if you found yourself to be the helpless bystander of a real car chase during your daily commute? This happens almost on a daily basis across California, and observations have shown that most motorists don’t know what to do.

An article in The Sacramento Bee described a chase that occurred several weeks ago along California’s Highway 99. News footage shows that as the chase progresses, the cars around the chase acted as if nothing was happening. They stayed at the same speed and made no efforts to get out of the way.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) says that one reason this occurs is that drivers don’t scan their mirrors often enough. They suggest that motorists check all of their mirrors every 15-20 seconds.

If you find yourself in the middle of a high-speed pursuit, CHP Trooper Mike Bradley stated that you should not slow down, but turn on your right blinker and work your way over to the shoulder of the highway. If you see a crime scene ahead, pull over and stop well behind officer vehicles.

The California auto accident attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers fight for victims who have been injured in accidents and support community safety campaigns throughout the year in order to prevent accidents. If you are the victim of a car accident, contact an experienced attorney today.

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2
Jan

New Laws Take Effect In California This New Year

January 2, 2012

California state law has undergone several changes that took effect with the ringing in of the New Year. The Sacramento Bee reported earlier today that the state’s tougher penalties on drinking and driving infractions and new standards for child safety seats while riding in motor vehicles began being enforced by police and troopers statewide yesterday.

Repeat Driving-Under-the-Influence (DUI) offenders will now face a possible decade-long ban of driving privileges under the new legislation. Now, judges will be able to sentence those who have been convicted of drunk driving three times or more in the past 10 years to a license revocation that will last a decade as well.

A state representative backed the law after hearing the story of two California highway patrol troopers who arrested a man for driving under the influence. The troopers discovered the man had been convicted of the crime eight times prior, but had always managed to get his license back.

Another important change to state law that took effect yesterday is in regards to child safety seats. Now, all children eight-years-old or younger must be in an approved child-restraining safety seat. For the past year, the safety seat law has been for all children six-years-old or younger, or 60 pounds or less. The only exception to the new rules of all children under eight is if they are 4’9” or taller.

The California auto accident attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers ask that motorists keep it safe on the highway by following all state guidelines, both new and old.

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27
Dec

Alameda Law Firm Offers Free Cab Rides Home on New Years Eve

December 26, 2011

In recent years, the holidays have become an increasingly dangerous time of year for driving in California. According to The Los Angeles Times, six people died on California highways over this past holiday weekend, and the California Highway Patrol made 889 suspected drunken driving arrests.

The California drunk driving victim attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers are sponsoring a campaign in order to help combat the growing number of drunk drivers during the holidays. The firm will be offering free cab rides home to those who have been drinking on New Years Eve.

This will be the seventh year that the law firm has sponsored the Safe And Sober Cab Ride program, which offers a maximum $35 cab fair home to anyone needing a ride. The rides are provided only to a person’s residence, not to another drinking location. The cabs will be running from 10:00 PM Saturday, December 31 to 4:00 AM Sunday, January 1.

Call one of the following cab companies and tell them your ride home is on Berg Injury Lawyers:

  • Sacramento – Call Yellow Cab Company of Sacramento at (916) 444-2222. Patrons must be picked up at a restaurant, hotel, or bar within downtown Sacramento to qualify for a free ride.
  • Alameda, Oakland & Berkeley — Call Veterans Cab at (800) 281‐4488. Any fare exceeding $35 must be paid in cash.
  • San Francisco — Call Luxor Cab at (415) 282‐4141. 
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7
Nov

Richmond Teen Killed, Two Others Injured During Illegal Street Race

November 7, 2011

In Richmond this weekend a local teen died and two others were injured in an illegal street race crash. The Contra Costa Times reported yesterday that the accident happened around 1:15 Sunday morning, along a stretch of Richmond Parkway.

The street glistened as the two cars, a Nissan Altima and a BMW, floated down the asphalt that was freshly drenched with rain. The vehicles were locked neck-and-neck, when the 21-year-old driver of the Nissan hit a wet patch, lost control, and hit his friend’s BMW. The impact caused the BMW to spin out of control and flip several times before hitting a pole.

The driver of the BMW died at the scene of the crash, while his two passengers were urgently rushed to the John Muir Medical Center by helicopter in critical condition. The driver of the Nissan was unharmed, but investigators arrested him on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence.

California issued 800 citations in 2001 for illegal racing-related infractions–a number that has grown significantly every year since. Now, it is estimated that 49 people are hurt and killed for every 1,000 individuals who participate in illegal street races.

The California Car Accident Attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers would like to encourage anyone hurt in an accident at no fault of their own to contact them immediately for a free evaluation of your case.

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31
Oct

Free Cab Rides Offered In The Bay Area Halloween Night

October 31, 2011

Tonight, trick-or-treaters will roam the streets in their ghoulish disguises on a quest for candy. Unfortunately, they could possibly have to share those streets with drivers who may have drank too much while celebrating the holiday, which puts everyone in grave danger. In order to help alleviate this problem, free cab rides home are being offered to anyone in the Bay area.

The program is called Safe and Sober and is sponsored by California Personal Injury Attorney, William Berg, and his firm, Berg Injury Lawyers. They began the program seven years ago and have offered the rides during major holidays every year since.

The rides will be offered between 10:00 PM tonight until 4:00 AM the tomorrow morning. The cab companies will offer the rides to anyone who has been drinking and needs a safe way home from a bar or restaurant. For a Safe and Sober ride this year, contact the following cab company within the your area:

  • Sacramento - Call Yellow Cab Company of Sacramento at (916) 444-2222.

Patrons must be picked up at a restaurant, hotel, or bar within Downtown Sacramento to qualify for a free ride.

  • Alameda – Call Veterans Cab at (800) 281‐4488.

Any fare exceeding $35 must be paid in cash. Oakland and Berkeley areas included.

  • San Francisco – Call Luxor Cab at (415) 282‐4141. 

The California Car Accident Attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers would like to wish everyone a safe, sober, and Happy Halloween!

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