Several recent crashes in the Bay Area point to growing problem. Drunk driving crashes continue to cause injuries and deaths in San Jose and the surrounding areas. In late March, a drunk driving crash on Casselino Drive in San Jose caused two deaths and two injuries. The driver and a passenger died, while two other passengers suffered injuries. In December, a California Highway Patrol officer was rear-ended and killed by a drunk driver on Interstate 880 in Hayward. Our law firm is currently representing a motorcyclist who was hit by a drunk driver on Highway 17.
Unsurprisingly, Bay Area towns with high concentrations of alcohol-serving establishments reported frequent drunk driving crashes. The Livermore Police Department said it has investigated 236 DUI crashes in the past three years. According to the department, these crashes resulted in 71 injuries and three deaths. For residents in Danville, San Ramon, Pleasanton and Walnut Creek, Livermore is the place to go for wine touring and high-quality bars without the hassle of a 1-hour drive to Napa.
Who Is Liable for Damages in a Drunk Driving Accident?
One or more parties may be liable for a drunk driving crash. Which parties are liable would depend on the circumstances. Businesses and hosts are generally not liable if they overserve intoxicated guests who cause accidents. However, these parties may be liable if they overserve visibly intoxicated minors who cause drunk driving crashes.
Employers may be liable if employees cause drunk driving accidents. For instance, an employer may be liable if they served an intoxicated employee alcohol at a company-sponsored event, and that employee causes a crash. Drunk drivers are liable for injuries or deaths they cause.
As you can tell, civil liability for a drunk driving crash in California depends on the circumstances. You should speak with one of our Bay Area car accident attorneys if you or a loved one were harmed by a drunk driver. The attorneys at Bohn & Fletcher can help you determine liability and whether there are options to recover compensation.