SAN CLEMENTE, California – Suspected drunk driver Julio Lopez, 23, was arrested after police say witnesses caught him fleeing the scene of a car accident that injured six people Saturday night in a collision involving five vehicles, according to a report in the Orange County Register.
According to the news article, the driver injured himself and five pedestrians in the 400 block of North El Camino Real. First the driver allegedly struck a parked vehicle and several other vehicles were hit in the 11:25 p.m. crash. Paramedics transported six victims including the driver to a local hospital.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reports traffic collisions involving drunk drivers killed more than 10,000 people in 2010 or roughly 31 percent of all traffic-related deaths in the United States, said West Seegmiller, founder of the Seegmiller Law Firm.
“This averages one fatality every 51 minutes due to drunk driving,” Seegmiller said. “While the numbers are staggering, deaths from drunk drivers were actually down nearly 5% in 2010 compared to 2009.”
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, in California some 791 people died because of drunk drivers out of a total of 2,715 people who were killed in traffic accidents in the state in 2010. Additionally, there were 32,885 people died in traffic accidents nationwide, NHTSA reports.
Orange County Car Accident Statistics
There were 141 deaths and 13,373 injuries recorded in Orange County traffic accidents in 2009, according to the California Statewide Integrated Traffic report. 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.
For roughly 30 years, the legal experts at Seegmiller Law Firm have represented hundreds of clients who were injured in traffic accidents or have lost a loved one.
If you are injured the insurance company may try to settle your claim quickly, but they do not have your best interests in mind. Some injuries may lead to long-term ailments requiring pain medication, therapy or loss of function. You may require time off work to recover from injuries completely and those costs are not likely part of the settlement they will offer you.
There is no cost to speak to our experienced legal professionals about your accident until we 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 (1-855-275-9378)to speak with our car accident law firm. There is no obligation to hire our firm, but we will help you determine if you need a lawyer. 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.
