Drunk driving has been a leading cause of auto accidents for decades.  It’s a growing problem state lawmakers and police have battling with new technologies and stiffer penalties.  If you’re a convicted drunk driver, obey the law and pay your penalty for making a bad mistake.  Don’t make another one by continuing to drive putting others in danger.

Drunk drivers with suspended licenses may cause other auto accidents.

State officials estimate more than 180,000 Californians have suspended licenses or have their privileges taken away because of drunk driving.  Of that number, 70,000 continue to drive.  It’s a statistic lawmakers want to change only they have difficulty doing so.

“A lot of DUI drivers do slip through the cracks, and the reason for that is quite simple — it’s a resource issue,” said Creg Datig, director of the state Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor program.  “It’s a common issue throughout the state.”

About 5,000 warrants are on file for people facing drunk driving charges in Ventura County as of late 2009, and 16 to 18 percent of people in the county’s alcohol education program are repeat offenders.  Not only that, but 48 of the 205 cars impounded by officers in the California Highway Patrol’s Moorpark district were from suspended licenses of drunk drivers.

Obviously, something must be done because some repeat offenders aren’t getting the message.

Some experts believe that a pilot program that expands the use of ignition interlock systems will correct the problem of repeat drunk driving offenders.  Interlock devices work by a driver blowing into the system prior to turning the key.  If the driver has had one too many, the ignition becomes locked preventing a start.

California judges can order repeat drunk driving offenders to get the ignition system, but it’s up to the judge.  About 20 percent of people who have been convicted in Ventura County are ordered to get the device.  Pilot programs will begin in four other counties including Los Angeles to make ignition devices mandatory for first-time DUI offenders.

Repeat drunk drivers cause our auto accident attorneys in San Diego to become upset.  These accidents are completely preventable by either calling a taxi or calling a friend.  There’s no reason for you or anyone else to drink and drive as there are plenty of safer alternatives.

Call us now at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE consultation with an experienced San Diego auto accident attorney or click here to submit your case for a FREE online review.

Drunk Drivers with Suspended Licenses Continue to Drive is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

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Serious bicycle accidents happen frequently, and last night, a 22-year-old cyclist was injured when a truck hit him on a Carlsbad road, according to the San Diego Union Tribune.

Carlsbad cyclist was hurt in a bicycle accident involving a truck.

Police officers who arrived on the scene said that the biker suffered a possible broken leg and maybe a brain injury because there was a head wound.  He was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment, and there is no word yet on whether he was wearing a helmet or not at.

According to Carlsbad police, the bicyclist was heading east in the bike lane on Cannon Road near Hemingway Drive.  Around 11:30 p.m. on June 7, 2010 a pickup driver hit the cyclist in what later became a bike vs. truck accident.

The driver, who was not cited at the time of the accident, stopped the car and waited for authorities to arrive.  Police do not believe that he was driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or drunk driving at the time of the accident.

If you were injured in a bike accident that you didn’t cause, you may be able to recover money with an insurance claim and our Carlsbad personal injury attorneys can help you out.

Contact us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE Consultation with a personal injury attorney or click here to submit your case for a FREE Online Review.  Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe nothing until we recover money at the end of your claim.

Carlsbad Bicycle Accident Leaves Cyclist With Injuries is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

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Since 2007, our auto accident lawyers have seen thousands of people attempting to find loopholes around the alcohol ban at beaches in San Diego.  Is it right or wrong?  We leave that question to politicians.  We can all agree that no one wants trash, loud noise and — most importantly — drunk driving to spread to all neighborhoods of San Diego.

Booze ban at Kate Sessions Park may move drunk drivers to other parks.

Will an alcohol ban at Kate Sessions Park only spread problems like drunk driving to other parks in San Diego? (SOURCE: KGTV News 10)

Residents near Kate Sessions Park in Pacific Beach complained to the San Diego Park and Recreation Board about growing problems at the park.  They voiced concerns over the spread of drinkers to the local park after the alcohol ban at beaches forced partiers to go elsewhere.

This past Memorial Day was no different as San Diego police believe more than 2,000 people showed up.  Kate Sessions Park has a 12-hour alcohol ban, but drinking is permitted during the day, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.  Loud noise and rowdy people flocked to the park, and public urination and drunk driving ensued.

Citizens wanted a weekend-only ban at Kate Sessions Park, but that was denied by SD Park and Recreation Board officials because they believe that will only cause the partiers to migrate to other parks where alcohol is allowed.

“Instituting a 24-hour ban here at Kate Sessions could only push the problem elsewhere,” San Diego Park and Recreation Board Chairman Wilbur Smith told News 10.

Even if a 24-hour alcohol ban is placed at Kate Sessions Park, that still leaves 19 parks for partiers to go to including Lake Murray Park, Presidio Park and Serra Mesa Park.  People interviewed at Kate Sessions said they’d keep moving regardless of booze bans until all options have been exhausted.

“Definitely.  I can’t get a tan inside a bar,” said Chris, a resident of Pacific Beach.

With Floatopia and Kate Sessions Park, daytime partiers in Pacific Beach have found ways to get around the beach booze ban.  Our San Diego auto accident lawyers promote safe, legal drinking, so if you choose to drink, please do so at a bar or perhaps a friend’s house.  And if you drink, remember to never drink and drive.

Call us now at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE consultation with an experienced auto accident attorney in San Diego or click here to submit your case for a FREE online review.

Booze Ban at Kate Sessions Park Won't Stop Drunk Driving is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

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Several personal injuries, however, have been reported in conjunction with the accident, including a severe spinal cord injury and possible brain injury for the driver.  The passenger was also hurt in the collision, but his injuries are undisclosed at this moment.

Suspected drunk driving accident in Mission Beach causes injuries.

According to law enforcement officials, a man who is suspected of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol crashed his Nissan Exterra into a tree in Mission Beach early this morning.

Around 1:35 a.m., the 24-year-old driver of the SUV was heading southbound on Ingraham Street on the Sunset Cliffs ramp.  He underestimated a deadly curve of the ramp and instead of turning into it, headed straight and flew off the road.  The car hit a tree before coming to a stop.

The driver sustained a spinal cord injury and possible brain injury after being hit in the head.  Police say they plan to file felony DUI charges against him.  The passenger, also 24 years of age, is currently undergoing medical treatment at a nearby hospital.

These two young men are lucky to be alive after this accident, because the other outcome (death) could have easily happened as well.  This summer, the days may be longer and the nights may be warmer, but one thing that will never change is the fact that drunk driving is a bad mistake that can lead to deadly results.

Being a good friend is not just buying a round at the local bar, but taking away the keys of any one who thinks they are going to drive themselves home after having one too many cocktails.

Call us now at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE consultation with an experienced San Diego car accident attorney or click here to submit your case for a FREE online review.

Suspected Drunk Driver Hits Tree In Mission Beach is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

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But not for actress Marley Shelton, who made a plea deal last week in Los Angeles and had all of her DUI charges dismissed by the court, according to E! Online.

Drunk driving charges thrown out for actress best known for her role in ‘The Sandlot’

Actress Mary Shelton has agreed to a plea in exchange for having 2 DUI charges against her dropped. (Source: E! Online)

Last Friday, Shelton — who played lifeguard Wendy Peffercorn in the 1993 kids movie, “The Sandlot” — came to a plea agreement with the court for two counts of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol.

In April of this year, Shelton was pulled over in Hollywood for suspicion of drunk driving and then arrested when she failed a field sobriety test administered by police.

A judge will take her plea agreement on June 21, 2010 where she will enter a “no contest” statement for speeding.  Once her plea has been entered, Shelton’s two misdemeanor charges for drunk driving will be dropped.

As part of her agreement, Shelton will be fined $240 plus penalties and required to complete 24 months of informal probation, according to her attorney, Trent Copeland.  She cannot have any run-ins with law enforcement or the penalty will be time served in prison.

We hope that this actress has learned her lesson and will not even think about getting behind the wheel again if she has had too much to drink.  Drunk driving is not something to be taken lightly and just because a movie actress has driven under the influence does not make it right.

Learn from Shelton’s mistakes so that you can make smart choices in the future.

For those of you that aren’t so lucky as to avoid a car accident, you may be eligible for a settlement.  For a FREE Consultation, call our car accident attorneys in Southern California — anytime night or day — at 1-800-655-6585 or click here to submit your case for a FREE Online Review.

Drunk Driving Charges Dismissed For 'Sandlot' Star is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

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A suspected drunk driver went the wrong way on Interstate 5 and ended up hitting two cars in the process, according to a story from San Diego 6 News.  Several personal injuries were caused in the collision, which occurred towards the tail-end of the Memorial Day Holiday.

Suspected drunk driver goes the wrong way on I-5, hits two cars in the process.

A motorist who is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol hit two cars on I-5 when he drove the wrong way. (Source: San Diego 6 News)

The accident happened in Otay Mesa, near the international border at about 10:00 p.m. on May 31, 2010.  I-5 southbound lanes near Palm Avenue were closed down for several hours as authorities tried assess what exactly happened.

An investigation by San Diego police revealed that the driver of a white Ford Explorer started going the wrong way on the freeway, traveling north in the southbound lanes of I-5 and hitting at least two cars in the process.

Each car was hit separately, one north of Palm Avenue and the other just a few clicks south.  A handful of people were injured in the midst of the chaos, but authorities have stated that none of the injuries appear to be life threatening.

When police arrived on the scene, they took the driver of the Ford Explorer into custody for suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, as well as several other charges.

What should you do if someone traveling the wrong way towards you and your car? The best thing technique is to flash your high beams and try to get their attention.  Regardless of if they see you or not, pull over to a safe spot on the side of the road immediately. You may be able to avoid a terrible accident if you clear a pathway for the driver.

Call us anytime — night or day — at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE Consultation with a San Diego car accident lawyer. You may also click here to submit your case for a confidential FREE Online Review. Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe nothing until we recover money on your behalf.

Wrong Way Driving Accident Caused By Suspected Drunk Driver is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

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Our firm’s San Diego car accident attorneys know that when you drink and drive, the odds are not in your favor.  Thankfully, it appears that property damage was the only result of this car accident.  Sometimes, human lives are put in jeopardy when an intoxicated driver gets behind the wheel of the car.

A suspected drunk driver hit a water main, causing flooding on the Pacific Coast Highway.

Part of the Pacific Coast Highway was flooded when a suspected drunk driver crashed into a water main. (Source: KTLA)

The alleged drunk driver collided with a pipe at around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 27th, 2010, rocketing a geyser of water into the air and flooding the highway.  Police and Santa Monica water officials arrived on the scene to find the asphalt soaked in mud and water.

Though traffic was shut down in on both sides between the California Incline and the McClure Tunnel, crews were able to plug the geyser in under seven hours with the help of a backhoe.  The PCH was reopened for drivers to travel on right around rush hour.

The motorist at fault was arrested immediately following the car accident for allegedly driving under the influence (DUI).  An investigation is pending to see if these allegations are true, and if they are, what is the total cost of damages for the clean-up of the water main break?

Drunk driving costs lives, compromises safety and costs money.  Do you really want to pick up the bill for the results of a DUI car accident?

Call us now at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE consultation with an experienced San Diego car accident attorney or click here to submit your case for a FREE online review.  You pay nothing until we recover money on your behalf.

Drunk Driver Causes Water Main Break On PCH is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

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Drunk driving, as our firm’s San Diego auto accident lawyers can tell you, causes harm out on the road every single day.  If the allegations of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol turn out to be true for the person who hit James, he might have to pay for the musician’s damages or possibly go to jail.

Saxophonist Boney James was in an auto accident, hit by a suspected drunk driver.

Jazz saxophonist Boney James was hit by a suspected drunk driver on the San Diego freeway. (Source: KTLA)

While traveling through Long Beach, James’ car was hit from behind as the saxophonist was stopped in traffic.  Other motorists on the freeway had to extract him from his vehicle after the auto accident and helped him while emergency crews rushed to the scene.

The Grammy-nominated jazz player’s personal injuries included a fractured jaw, 14 stitches to a cut on his chin, and two broken teeth — all things that are bad to have if you rely on your mouth to play an instrument in order to make a living.

Loss of earnings could be added to the list of damages the at-fault driver will have to pay if he or she is found responsible for the auto accident.

A representative for James has stated that he has canceled his upcoming performance in Columbia, South Carolina originally scheduled for the end of this week, but he has completed his medical treatment and was released from the hospital.  The three-time Grammy Award nominee and a Soul Train Award winner did not have any life-threatening injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.

Our firm’s auto accident lawyers hope that James’ injuries did not impair his abilities to play saxophone too much and that he can get back to performing as soon as possible.  For most of us, we’d be asking ourselves: how am I going to pay my bills?  What is going to happen to my insurance?  What if I can’t work because I am too injured?

That’s why our law firm is here for you!

If you are injured in a car accident, contact our San Diego law firm at (800) 655-6585 for a FREE consultation with an experienced auto accident lawyer. You may also click here to submit your case for a FREE online review.

You owe nothing until we win your case.

Suspected Drunk Driver Hits Sax Player Boney James is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

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The San Diego Union Tribune has reported that a man suspected of DUI was arrested for driving onto a Brown Field runway in the early morning hours.  Police officials say that the man caused some property damage when he drove through a fence and sped out onto the runway.

DUI suspect plows through fence and drives onto runway at Brown Field.

The DUI suspect was detained once airport security personnel and Border Patrol agents arrived on the scene.  Police officers arrived later to take the suspect into custody.

No personal injuries happened as a result of motorist Richard Leyva’s actions, who was allegedly under the influence of a controlled substance at the time.  Levya, 28, was seen riding in his car on the runway once flight operations at the airport were done for the night.

“They asked why he was there and he said he was there to catch a flight,” police Lt. Dan Christman after Levya was arrested.  ”We don’t believe that’s the case.  We believe that he didn’t know where he was and there is evidence he crashed through a fence.”

Brown’s Field is an airport and our auto accident attorneys are glad that the actions of this suspected DUI driver did not cause a major crash where lives where lost.  Taking alcohol or drugs in the privacy of your own home is one thing, but when you get behind the wheel of a car, then it becomes a risk to everyone on the road.

Don’t play with your life or anyone else’s on the road.

Call us now at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE consultation with an experienced San Diego auto accident attorney or click here to submit your case for a FREE online review.  There is no fee until we win your case.

DUI Suspect Arrested For Driving On Brown Field is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

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That’s the good news in our firm’s auto accident lawyers eyes.  The bad news is that there is suspicion that this crash might have been one caused by driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs, something that usually doesn’t spare a life on the road.

Car splits in half during suspected DUI auto accident.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) arrested a motorist who was allegedly drinking and driving when they lost control of their orange Dodge Neon where the southbound Interstate-5 and Route 15 meet.  The vehicle collided with a concrete divider, tearing it in two.

On impact, the car was opened up in half and the back section was flung on the other side of the highway.  The three passengers inside the vehicle, besides the driver, sustained moderate personal injuries, but are doing better than expected.

“The driver was traveling at a pretty high speed,” said CHP Officer Tom Stromer, who indicated that the consumption of alcohol was present at the crash site.

For our auto accident lawyers in San Diego, drunk-driving accidents are something that we find unacceptable and we always encourage everyone to make smart decisions when it comes to getting behind the wheel with an intoxicated driver, including yourself.

Until technology is developed that stops drunk-drivers in their tracks, it is up to everyone to make the right decision.  That decision doesn’t just mean abstaining from driving when you have had too much to drink — it means making sure friends and family do the same.

If you are injured in a DUI car accident, contact our San Diego law firm at (800) 655-6585 for a FREE consultation with an experienced auto accident lawyer.  You may also click here to submit your case for a FREE online review.

You owe nothing until we win your case.

Auto Accident Tears Vehicle In Half, But Kills Zero is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

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