ORANGE, California – Suspected drunk driver Lloyd Mardel Cotton Jr. 27, of Anaheim is being held at Orange County Jail on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence and causing injury after allegedly causing a fatal head-on collision in Orange, according to the Orange County Register.

Charles Bayes, 49, was pronounced dead at the scene of Tuesday’s crash and his mother suffered minor injuries, according to a report by the Orange County Coroner Department.
Cotton was behind the wheel of a Toyota Highlander that crossed over into opposing traffic on Lincoln Avenue near Tustin Street and then crashed head on with a Honda Civic that Bayes was a passenger in, the coroner report said. He was arrested upon his release from hospital where he was recovering from minor injuries sustained in the crash. Bail for Cotton was set at $100,000.

Drunk Driving Statistics

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, some 791 people died because of drunk drivers out of a total of 2,715 people who were killed in traffic accidents in California in 2010.

Nationwide there were 10,228 deaths attributed to alcohol impaired driving in 2010, the NHTSA reports. Some 32,885 people died in traffic accidents nationwide. While the numbers are staggering, deaths from drunk drivers were actually down nearly 5% in 2010 compared to 2009.

In California, fatal traffic accidents were down 12% to 2,715 deaths in 2010 compared to 3,090 killed in 2009, according to statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Additionally, national statistics show that traffic fatalities have declined in recent years across the United States, down roughly 3% to 32,885 deaths in 2010 compared to 33,883 killed in 2009.
The Seegmiller Law Firm

Police investigate every car accident involving a death to determine the cause of a crash, Seegmiller explains. The investigation will seek to find out if either driver was under the influence of alcohol, distracted or if there were any circumstances that may have led to the crash that were illegal or reckless.

“Families of victims killed in car accidents not only have to cope with the loss of a loved one, but later their lives may be forever changed due to the loss of income and other costs,” said Seegmiller.

If you have lost a loved one in a car accident we know that this is a difficult time. We offer our condolences to the family and friends of the victim. For roughly 30 years, the legal experts at Seegmiller Law Firm have represented hundreds of clients who were injured in serious traffic accidents or have lost a loved one.

Our legal team has also handled hundreds of wrongful death claims for families of victims killed in traffic accidents. Our staff is compassionate and understands the pain its clients are going through. We know that this is a difficult time for those who have been injured and for the families of those who have been killed.

There is no cost to clients until our experienced team of lawyers and legal professionals have won your case. Finding the best car accident attorney can mean you will get the settlement you need to get your life back on track. Compensation for your injuries, loss of wages and pain and suffering can’t take away the trauma of the accident, but it can help you rebuild your life.

Call us today at 1-855-ASK WEST to speak with our car accident law firm. Seegmiller Law Firm has offices in California including its headquarters in Irvine. We also have offices outside of Orange County to serve you in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside and in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Serving every county in Southern California including Orange County, Los Angeles County, Kern County, Imperial Empire, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Ventura County, San Diego County and San Francisco County.

The cities we handle include Anaheim, Buena Park, Colton, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Lake Forest, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Orange, Palm Springs, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Ana, Torrance, Tustin, Westminster, West Covina, Victorville, Ventura and. Additionally, we have offices to serve clients in Las Vegas, Nevada.