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Updates on Two Orange County, California Drunk Driving Accident Cases
May 08, 2008

Two local DUI cases in the spotlight this week have brought home how important getting the "don't drink and drive" message out to young people in Orange County really is. In the first, the driver accused of driving his car that struck and killed a Huntington Beach teenager has had felony charges filed against him. In the other, a woman who caused the death of her best friend driving while intoxicated in a drunk driving accident has pleaded guilty to felony vehicular manslaughter.

Danny Oates' case is particularly poignant. When the 14-year-old teenager headed back to school in the fall of last year, he was unprepared for the tragedy that was to come. On his bicycle and on the way to school, Danny was struck by a 20-year-old driver. At the time, there was nothing to point that the accident had been anything more than just that - an unfortunate accident. What a difference a few months make. It later came out that Jeffery Woods was not just on drugs at the time of the drunk driving accident, but he was actually in the process of closing a drug deal.

Now, Jeffrey Woods has been charged with felony vehicular manslaughter and driving while under the influence. Any element of sympathy that the man had after he ended up causing the accident has now deservedly dissipated. You don't cause a crash that's not only strong enough to send a boy flying 100 feet, but which also leaves the front of your car smashed beyond recognition by driving sober, or by driving at the speed limit. Jeffrey has not only been utterly negligent, but even criminal in his actions. This was a man who was actually engaged in a criminal act when he caused the death of young boy. Lets hope that he ends up in a place where there is no chance to kill others while behind the wheel.

The other case that's seen developments in the last couple of days has to do with Marian Teri Kahale, the 19-year-old woman who was driving in the drunk driving accident that killed her best friend, Natasha Dannov. The accident occurred on November 18 last year, a few hours after Natasha's birthday. The two girls had celebrated Natasha's birthday at a party, where Kahale admitted she had taken the drug ecstasy. After that, she left for another party in Mission Viejo, where she consumed vodka. They then set off for home in an SUV with Kahale at the wheel. On the way, the car veered off the freeway and struck a guardrail, ejecting Natasha who was sleeping in the passenger seat without a seatbelt on. She died instantly in the drunk driving accident. Now Marion Kahale has pleaded guilty to charges of vehicular manslaughter in the drunk driving accident.

Natasha's parents meanwhile, have other questions they want answered about the drunk driving accident that killed their daughter. Where, for instance, did the girls who were underage at the time of the drunk driving accident, get their hands on ecstasy and vodka? They have filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the case of their daughter's death against Kahale. This is one drunk driving accident where you can't even cheer when the bad guy gets punished - Marion has effectively ruined her life too, and faces a minimum of four years in prison.

As we said at the beginning, if there's one thing to take home from these two cases, it's how drunk driving accidents have become more common among the young. Both accused are aged 20 or below, which makes it all the more important to ram the "don't drink and drive" message home harder than before.

If you have lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident, you need the help of an experienced California personal injury lawyer. Contact an attorney at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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Kenwood Woman Charged in Drunk Driving Accident
April 25, 2008

A Kenwood woman will go to trial for gross vehicular manslaughter after a judge ruled that there was enough evidence against her in a drunk driving accident that killed a Santa Rosa, California resident. The woman, Chelsea Tedeschi, was under the influence at the time of the crash, which occurred on July 17.

The drunk driving accident occurred a mile east of Oakmont, California on Highway 12. The victim, Jane Beverly Todd, was riding in a car being driven by her 16-year-old son Doug. According to his testimony, the two of them were returning to Santa Rosa when an incoming car veered into his lane. He tried to swerve into the eastbound lane to avoid her, but the cars collided anyway. Tedeschi's car ended up 100 feet away from the point of impact.

Jane Beverly Todd died at the scene of the drunk driving accident. Tedeschi was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of her injuries, and was given a blood alcohol test. The readings were 0.19 percent, 0.20 percent and 0.22 percent.

Tedeschi admitted to officers that she had had two glasses of Chardonnay over dinner with her mom, and had two vodka shots after that in her apartment, before the drunk driving accident. She had also taken an anti-depressant pill. She also admitted that she shouldn't have been driving.

Well, it's a little late for that moment of truth. This hindsight clarity doesn't bring back Jane Beverly Todd, and it doesn't help her family deal with her loss.

Tadeschi's attorneys have come up with a drunk driving defense that's sure to tug at the heartstrings. Apparently, Tedeschi was recovering from an abusive relationship, and had been on anti-depressants at the time of the drunk driving accident. Surely the doctor who prescribed her anti-depressants did not advise her to take the pill, mix it up with some vodka and a little Chardonnay and go right ahead and drive off at night.

There's a little thing called accountability for your actions that this young woman has obviously not heard of. When she gets into a car dizzy from all the pills and alcohol in her, she takes responsibility for any drunk driving accidents that may happen on the road. People have relationship problems. They break up. They get depressed. If we begin to use that as an excuse for drunk driving accidents, we insult the memory of those who died needlessly as a result of their behavior. Why did Jane Todd have to pay for any personal problems Tedeschi had? There are so many things she will never be able to do now - watch her son graduate from college, weep at his wedding, see her grandkids. And all because a woman who should have known better chose to take no responsibility for her actions.

As expected, Tadeschi has pleaded not guilty charges related to the drunk driving accident. The Todds, however, have moved ahead with a wrongful death lawsuit against Tadeschi. That case will come up in September.

If you have been the victim in a drunk driving accident, you need the help of an experienced California personal injury lawyer. Contact an attorney at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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Family gets a $3 Million Hospital Bill after DUI Accident
April 04, 2008

If there ever was a case in favor making the alcohol industry liable in some way for the injuries caused when irresponsible drivers choose to drive drunk, the Hubers would be a perfect example. A comfortably middle class Tucson, Arizona family has exhausted their savings, and their household income is half of what it used to be thanks to a drunk driver. Their son, Chris, still struggles with an amputated leg, so his father, Vernon, had to quit his job to take care of him.

And all because of a drunken driver, who has managed to change life for the worse for this family.

On April 1^st last year, 21-year-old Chris was walking with his brother Chad near Chad's apartment complex, when a car driven by a drunken driver came racing down the road and mowed him down. Without warning, the driver drove straight into Chris. He was thrown into the windshield, over the top of the vehicle and then snagged on the rear of the still moving car. The driver raced on ahead in his drunken daze, not even realizing he had hit anyone. When Chad turned around to look for Chris, his brother was hanging off a speeding car. Luckly, someone managed to flag the car down. By the time Chris touched the ground, he had broken both his legs and had a pelvic fracture. His legs were hanging by shreds of skin, and he had survived an almost fatal fracture to his spine. He was rushed to the hospital where his mother, Linda, says he had at least 20 surgeries in the first few weeks. A staph infection in his right leg meant one of the worst words a 21-year-old could possibly hear - amputation. If left as it was, the infection threatened to spread to his intestines and stomach. The bill for the first year after his crash? $3 million.

The driver of the car that hit Chris was given 10 days in lock up. He didn't have liability insurance. Chris had no health insurance. The family was on their own for the medical bills, and they were piling up. In the midst of this, Linda and Vernon have managed to get Chris slowly back to some semblance of his life. There is plenty of rehabilitation to go through, but at least he's alive.

The driver of the car is currently cooperating in a lawsuit against the bar where he had been drinking before he mowed Chris down. He was so drunk, apparently, that the bartender and waiters had to shake him awake. They filled him with enough alcohol for him to nearly pass out unconscious, and then sent him off on his way. Where was their sense of responsibility? How difficult would it have been to realize that a man so drunk he was almost passed out on the counter was going to be a grave danger to himself and to others on the road?

It's too late for Chris to have his heath back, but for the sake of other drivers on the road, let's hope the bar gets cleaned out and shut down.

If you have been injured by a drunk driver, you need the help of an experienced California personal injury lawyer. Contact an attorney at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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Miami Archdiocese to pay $14 Million to Boy with Brain Injuries
April 02, 2008

All it would have taken for the authorities at Gabriel Maynoldi's school was to let parents know there was an underage drinking party planned at the home of one of his classmates. The school might not have had permission to interfere in a private party in a private home, but it would have been totally within its bounds to inform parents of teenagers that their kids were about to embark on a drink fest that might not end well.

Kids and alcohol make a potent combination. Combine that with a car and you have all the ingredients for a disaster. When the party at the home of Enrique and Yasmin Valcarcel wound down, friends Gabriel and Michael Sanchez-Agramonte set off for home in their white Acura. They were traveling at approximately 80 miles an hour when the car slammed into a tree. The impact cracked the car in half. Michael died instantly. Gabriel suffered severe brain injuries, and remains paralyzed and confined to a wheel chair. Michael had a blood alcohol level of .22 and Gabriel's alcohol level was .096. The legal allowed limit is .08. It was 2001, and the boys were 17 years old.

Gabriel's parents sued the Archdiocese of Miami for negligence, and on Friday a court ruled in their favor, finding the Archdioceses liable for $14 million. In their lawsuit, the parents claimed that the boy's school, Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School, was partially negligent in the accident. On the day of the fateful party, the school authorities, including Principal Richard Fenchak, were fully aware that an underage drinking party was being planned at the home of the Valcarcels. Invitations for the party had been circulating in the school, and it was clearly obvious to anyone who saw them that copious amounts of alcohol were going to flow. The invite featured a picture of Crown Royal Whiskey, and an invitation that read "Come end the school year the right way."

Not only was principal Fenchak aware of the party, but he actually made joking references to it on the public address system at school that day. He even dropped by the party venue where he saw students of his own school dropping unconscious from drinking the alcohol, and he didn't see fit to step in and take an authoritative role. One assumes he wanted to be a jolly and happy-go-lucky principal who was a friend to all his students - a cool principal, in short.

Except that Gabriel Maynoldi's condition is far from being cool. He has no use of his arms and legs, and his muscles have to be painfully stretched to prevent contraction. This is a boy who can never have a normal life.

When the Maynoldis admitted their son into this private school, they signed a document that stated that the school would inform them of any illegal activities that were being planned on campus. The last time we checked drinking before the age of 21 was illegal in this country. The Maynoldis deserved to know that their child was going to be indulging in dangerous activities. Placing the blame on the parents avoids the crux of the matter - that the school was supposed to inform the parents of any untoward events being planned, and it didn't. It shirked its responsibility, with tragic consequences for two young men.

If you have been injured in a drunk driving related accident, you need the help of an experienced California personal injury attorney. Contact a lawyer at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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Four-Year-Old Fresno Boy Killed in Easter Sunday Accident
March 25, 2008

It was supposed to be an exciting Easter egg hunt for 4-year-old Elias Anthony Pico. He was on his way to a relative's house with his father, where the kids were to take part in an Easter egg hunt. By all accounts, his father Anthony Pico did everything he could to make sure his child was safe in the back seat. Elias was in a car seat in the middle rear seat, and was safely restrained.

But he hadn't reckoned with the sort of lunatic recklessness that comes when a driver has seen fit to step behind the wheel, after drinking more than is appropriate. The Pico family's Nissan Altima was traveling west on American Avenue and slowed down to turn into the driveway of the house where his cousin Victoria Cerpa was getting things ready for the Easter egg hunt. Elias never got to participate in the hunt. A 2002 Toyota Tacoma, driven by Stephen Watson and traveling at 60 miles per hour, slammed into the Altima from the rear. The impact of the crash caused the Altima to spin around and hit a concrete wall. Little Elias was killed instantly. He was his parent's only child.

The Tacoma continued on ahead for a while before coming to a stop near a chain link fence. Watson tried to make a run for it, but was chased by Anthony's relatives, who by this time had all come out of the house. He was restrained until the police were called to the scene.

The other passengers in the car, including a man, a woman and a 6-year-old child sustained minor injuries. Anthony Pico himself received minor injuries.

The car the family was driving was a rental, as their own car was at the service station. The Altima was much smaller than their car, and police at the scene said the injuries might not have been so tragic if it had been a bigger car.

Watson has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, gross vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run. This wasn't a teenage boy out in his dad's car with his friends, kicking up a storm. This was an adult 45-year-old man who can't possible argue that he wasn't aware of the potential for danger when he decided to drive drunk. In fact, we should probably not even call this an "accident."

We need to stop dealing with drunken driving like it's a frat boy-type mistake. Punishments for drunken driving in the country are nowhere close to where they should be. Many times offenders get away with a slap on the wrist and nothing more. Is it any wonder then that so many drunken driving cases are by repeat offenders?

It's beyond senseless that a family has to lose their only child to the recklessness of another, and that too, on Easter. In cases like this, making the driver pay financial compensation that could cripple him and making him serve jail time is what could send a strong message to other drivers.

If you or a family member have been injured or killed by a drunk driver, you need the help of an experienced California personal injury lawyer. Contact an attorney at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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Man Charged in Fatal Crash
March 19, 2008

It was an accident that bought to mind the deaths of the Coble children last year, when their car was rear-ended by a trailer. Early in February this year, three young children and their grandmother were killed in Arkansas in a similar accident that eliminated an entire generation of a family in a horrible manner.

The crash occurred on February 6 at 2:40 am. The Crapps' family was returning from a vacation in Pensacola, Florida. The three children, 9-year-old Jada, 7-year-old Hunter and 3-year-old Kaden were with their grandmother Althea Crapps, who was driving. The children's mother, her aunt and her boyfriend followed in their car. A red pickup driven by Steven William, a 28-year-old man from Bryant, was heading in the wrong direction. Apparently, troopers already had been made aware that a red pickup truck was going the wrong way in the northbound lane with its headlights off.

By the time troopers could reach the spot where the pickup was last sighted going the wrong way, he had already crashed into the Crapps' car.

All four occupants of the car died instantly. According to the passengers in the car that was traveling behind them, they didn't even see the red pickup before it collided into the vehicle.

On Tuesday, Steven Williams was charged with 4 counts of homicide. Since the crash he has been detained at the county detention center pending a cash bail amount of $200,000. He had been briefly taken to the Jefferson Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries sustained during the crash.

Williams was so drunk at the time of the crash he could barely speak. According to police officers, who first arrived at the crash scene, he was unsteady on his feet, reeked of alcohol and had a blank and vacant stare. He was sweating profusely, and was wearing Mardi Gras beads. He apparently told investigators that he had just attended a party in Little Rock. In short, this was not a man who was slightly above the alcohol limit. He was too drunk to stand on his feet, and had no business being anywhere behind the wheel. This wasn't a teenager who made a youthful mistake. This was a grown adult who showed such irresponsibility it's hard to see how he can be found anything but guilty.

We hope the story doesn't end here. An entire generation of a family was wiped out because Williams was too careless to ask somebody for a ride home, or too cheap to fork out the money to hire a cab. In his alcohol induced stupor, he endangered countless other vehicles on the road by driving the wrong way before finally causing the ultimate damage to a family. The children's mother will find it hard to think beyond the fact that she lost all her children in one shot, but we hope she realizes that there are avenues to be explored to make Williams pay in a manner that will really hurt. It won't heal her suffering, but it will ensure that a homicidal maniac will be too financially crippled to get back to a normal life.

If you have been injured, or a loved one has been killed in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you need an experienced California personal injury attorney to defend your rights. Contact a lawyer at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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Restaurants and Driver Settle for $410,000 in DUI Case
January 29, 2008

It's difficult to say who's most at fault in a drunken driving accident - the one who gets behind the wheel, fully aware he is a danger to other people, or the establishment that plies a man with enough alcohol to be a danger to other people.

Evidently, the relatives of 22-year-old Evan Zarate, who was killed in a DUI collision, didn't need any convincing about where the fault lay and who should pay. They have managed to settle for a sum of $410,000 with the drunken driver, the restaurant where he was served the alcohol that caused the crash and the employees who failed to detect that the driver was too drunk to be served more alcohol.

The case relates to the accident that occurred on August 24, 2005 in Tucson, Arizona, in which Julie Lagergren, driving under the influence, crashed her Volvo station wagon into the Kia of the victim, Evan Zarate. The Kia was being driven by Monica Miranda, the mother of two of Zarate's kids. The crash left Monica with serious injuries including a punctured lung. Zarate never regained consciousness after the crash. He died a week later in the hospital.

His family lost no time filing lawsuits against Lagergren, Elle, a Wine County Restaurant, Cuvee World Bistro and Walgreens. The lawsuit alleges that the restaurant where Julia Lagergren was served alcohol was at fault for serving intoxicants to a person who was already drunk. Walgreens employees should also have detected that Julie was intoxicated, the lawsuit alleged, but they went ahead and sold her liquor anyway.

According to Ele's attorneys, the bartender who served Lagergren the drinks was trained to detect any obvious signs of intoxication, and did not detect any such sign of drunkenness on the woman.

Obviously the bartender and other employees were not as trained at detecting people who are intoxicated as they fancy themselves. A woman who was at least 3 times over the DUI limit levels of intoxication was allowed to drink more as she passed through the bar on her way out on the road and into Zarate's car.

Lagergren herself was sentenced in December 2006 to 3 years in prison for negligent homicide and five years of probation for aggravated assault. This settlement now places stiff and fair financial burden on her other accomplices in this tragedy.

If you have been injured or a loved on has been killed in a drunk driving accident, contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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"Pulp Fiction" Co-Writer Arrested for Drunk Driving
January 14, 2008

Academy Award-winning writer Roger Avary was arrested after causing an accident while driving under the influence. The accident killed a passenger in Avary's car, and severely injured his wife.

The accident occurred outside the Ojai Lumber Company at 12:54 am, according to the Los Angeles Times. Avary and his wife are residents of Ojai, a small artist's community in Ventura County, California.

Few details of the accident are available, but the LA Times reported that Avary's wife, Gretchen, was ejected from the back seat, and taken to a hospital with severe injuries. The man in the passenger seat, an Italian citizen named Andreas Zini, had to be extricated from the vehicle, and was taken to Ventura County Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.

Avary was arrested in charges of felony driving under the influence and manslaughter, and was booked into Ventura County jail before he posted a bail amount of $50,000.

It is such a waste of talent. An award-winning writing flushing his life away over one incredibly bad decision, a decision which is made all too frequently, to drink and then drive. Not only does Avary potentially have to serve jail time, but he also has to live forever with the guilt that he killed one person and seriously hurt his wife. We can only hope that this high-profile incident serves as a lesson to other drivers out there, but since day-in and day-out we always hear new stories of drunk drivers killing and being killed, no lesson seems to have stuck yet.

If you or a loved-one has been severely hurt, injured, or even killed by a drunk driver, you need an experienced California personal injury attorney. Contact a lawyer at The Reeves Law Group immediately for a free consultation.

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DUI Driver Charged in Fatal Accident
January 08, 2008

As the first member of her family to attend college, 19-year-old Sylvia Nunez had a bright future that belied her humble beginnings. An assistant manager at a Burger King, Sylvia had saved her earnings to pay for college, and was due to transfer to a university this year.

All those plans came to an end on New Year's Eve in Elk Grove, California, when a drunken driver in a Toyota pickup broadsided her family's sports utility vehicle. Sylvia, a rear-seat passenger, was ejected from her seat and suffered fatal injures. Her younger siblings aged, 17, 15 and 5 are still hospitalized.

The driver of the pick up, 22-year-old Ryan Williamson, fled from the scene, and was later picked up by police and arrested on charges of suspected homicide, hit and run, and driving under the influence. He was also charged with driving without a license after a previous DUI offense, and failing to stop at a stop sign.

Williamson's neighbors say they have long been aware of his fondness for speeding on neighborhood streets.

The state of California recently enforced a new law that requires persons applying for a driver's license to sign a declaration saying they are aware they could have murder charges brought against them if they cause fatalities while driving in an intoxicated state.

Unfortunately, the law comes too late for people like Sylvia Nunez.

If you or a family member has been injured or killed in a drunk driver related car crash, contact a California personal injury lawyer at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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Pregnant Woman Loses Baby In DUI Accident
January 04, 2008

20-year-old Adrienne Dazo had a lot to look forward to. She had just celebrated her 20th birthday with her friends, and was in great health. She was also expecting her first child, and was in her fifth month of pregnancy. Whatever dreams Dazo might have had for her child were dashed Sunday morning when a drunk driver slammed into her car. Adrienne lost her unborn child, and remains in critical condition at a hospital.

It was initially believed that the driver Brandon Parker was driving under the influence. Now police say he was not only drunk, but was also driving with a suspended license. Thanks to the impaired judgment and slow reaction time that are always associated with consuming alcohol, Parker ran a red light and smashed his car into Dazo at the intersection of Donovan Road and Carlotti Drive in Santa Maria, California. Parker will be bought before court on Friday.

Being held liable for the damages that you cause when you drive in an intoxicated state can do much to reduce the numbers of DUI accidents that are taking place with such frequency. The state of California does conduct DUI awareness programs regularly, but people are still either slipping through the cracks or couldn't be bothered to practice what they learn.

In any case, it is definitely not because people don't understand the dangers of drinking while driving, an argument that many attorneys have used to get their intoxicated clients out of trouble.

If you or a loved-one has been the victim of a drunk driver, contact an experienced California personal injury attorney at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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Fatal DUI Accident has San Bernardino Police Worried for Holiday Safety
December 21, 2007

For law enforcement officers all around the country, one of the toughest times of the year begins in a day or two, as party season kicks off, and already signs are that this year isn't going to be a whole lot different from others as far as irresponsible and drunken driving is concerned.

On Wednesday, 22-year-old Jose Ricki Flores, driving in an intoxicated state, lost control of his 1991 Nisan Sentra on Highway 18. The car spun around, and skidded backwards crashing into a 2006 Cadillac Escalade. All three passengers in Flores' car were killed. Two were brothers, while the third was their cousin. The oldest of the three dead boys was 25, the youngest 17.

Authorities are still awaiting tests on Flores, but he is expected to be arrested for drunk driving and gross vehicular manslaughter.

The holiday season hasn't begun officially yet, and accidents like these are worrying local police who have been mounting strong efforts to educate people about the dangers of drunk driving. San Bernardino, California had the distinction of ranking fourth in the state as far as drunk driving related accidents go last year - a total of 12,343 arrests.

Drunk driving seems to be a stubborn problem. In spite of all efforts by police and regular DUI programs, close to 8 in 10 drunk drivers are repeat offenders. This means that every time a drunk driver is let off with nothing more than a slap on the wrist when he's caught driving in an intoxicated state, he gets closer to causing real damage to property and life the next time he gets behind the wheel drunk.

Consequences are often tragic and mind numbingly senseless as in the case of Flores. Not only does he face a possible jail sentence, he will live the rest of his life knowing he was responsible for the deaths of 3 of his closest friends. It's a lesson that San Bernardino officials want to drill into young minds this holiday season.

If you've been injured in an accident that occurred as a result of drunk driving, call the experienced California personal injury attorneys at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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Wrong Way Motorist Arrested for DUI in Orange, California Crash
November 30, 2007

A 19-year-old Glendale California woman who caused a serious accident by driving the wrong way on a freeway has been arrested for DUI.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the woman, who hasn't been identified, was driving the wrong way on the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway around 1:21 am on Friday. California Highway Patrol was notified that a driver was driving the wrong way on the busy stretch. Just minutes after, the woman's car, a Nissan Altima collided with a Toyota pickup with a man and woman, students of University of California, Riverside inside it.

The Altima was severely damaged. The suspect was seriously injured and had to be rushed to hospital. The occupants of the pickup suffered injuries too.

The suspect has been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Reckless driving is a major cause of road accidents in the country. A person who drives without regard for the rules of the road not only puts his own life in danger but also the lives and safety of other drivers on the road. The California personal injury lawyers at The Reeves Law Group have substantial expertise in handling accident cases arising out of negligence or carelessness of the other party and may be able to help you obtain a settlement.

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California Highway Patrol Gears up for Holiday Accidents
November 16, 2007

Every year, the California Highway Patrol declares a four-day enforcement period beginning the Wednesday before Thanksgiving in an effort to stem the tide of holiday related accidents that are expected over the weekend. Last year the enforcement period saw nearly 1670 arrests for drunken driving. Almost a full week ahead of the holidays, and it doesn't look like things are going to be a whole lot different this year.

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DUI Suspected in San Diego Bike Accident
October 02, 2007

On October 1, 14-year-old Kas Saunders and his friend were riding their bikes on Cole Grade Road in Valley Center, California. It was about 5:45 pm when a Cadillac Sedan going the same direction hit Kas's bike at 40 mph. According to the California Highway Patrol, Kas was thrown off his bike and died instantly.

Now authorities say, the driver of the Cadillac, Robert Bernabeo may have been under the influence when his car struck Kas's bike. The 46-year-old Bernabeo was arrested yesterday under suspicion of DUI. Sign-on San Diego says prescribed medication is being described as the substance in question.

Every time a DUI accident occurs, the general tendency is to think of it as a one time offence or a first time "mistake." However statistics prove that many DUI offenders once they have been let off with hardly more than a slap on the wrist are emboldened enough to repeat such dangerous behavior. Pursuing monetary compensation in cases like Kas's where a reckless driver caused the wrongful death of a young teen, can dissuade the driver and others of his kind from ever getting behind the wheel when they are not 100-per-cent sober. In Kas' case at least pursuing the driver for compensation may not heal the family's grief, but the prospect of a substantial payout will make others more wary about the consequences when they drive under the influence, prescribed medication or not.

If a loved one has suffered a wrongful death in an accident caused by a person driving under the influence, call the California personal injury attorneys at The Reeves Law Group for a consultation.

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Alcohol Suspected in Fatal Car Crash in San Diego
October 01, 2007

Authorities believe alcohol may have been a factor in the fatal car accident that occurred on September 27 on Interstate 8, west of Lake Jennings, San Diego, California. Sign-on San Diego last week reported on the crash that involved a Ford Taurus that caught fire after spinning off the freeway. One passenger was killed and another was injured in the accident.

Now witness accounts report seeing the driver of theTaurus driving recklessly around 12:10am, just before the accident took place. The car struck another vehicle, an oncoming BMW, and skidded off the freeway. It then slid down an embankment and into a backyard, where it caught fire. According to the California Highway Patrol, two of the passengers, who were not wearing seatbelts, were ejected from their seats. One suffered moderate injuries and was taken to hospital, while the other passenger died. The driver who was wearing a seatbelt suffered a mild head injury. Officials were not able to confirm immediately if the driver of the BMW sustained any injuries.

Every year thousands of people suffer severe personal injuries or are killed by drunk drivers on American roads. Fortunately, there are a number of websites and organizations out there that offer support to the families of victims of wrongful death or personal injuries caused by DUI drivers. Being forced to pay monetary compensation can also hold a person who's been stupid enough to get behind the wheel drunk accountable for these actions, thereby offering families some semblance of closure.

At The Reeves Law Group, our California personal injury attorneys can help you obtain monetary compensation for personal injury or wrongful death arising out of a drunk driving accident.

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San Diego Hit and Run Driver Sentenced to 11 years
September 28, 2007

Closure has been a while coming for the Young family. Last November, their 19-year-old daughter Whitney, a Mesa College freshman was out with her four friends on Montezuma Road, adjacent to Rockford Drive near San Diego State University, California. As Whitney crossed the street a BMW driven by Eric Joseph Leeman struck the co-ed. Whitney suffered massive brain injuries and was rushed to hospital. She spent 4 days in intensive care before doctors pronounced her dead.

Leeman fled the scene and did not surrender to Police. At the trial, he confessed that he feared the consequences and was overcome with guilt and sadness. When the Police traced and arrested him four days after the accident, he informed them that he thought he had struck an animal, possibly a raccoon!

Leeman had been charged with a count of murder which was dismissed as part of a plea bargain. Witnesses testified in court that the 21-year-old Leeman had been seen drunk at a party a night before the fatal accident that killed Young. He was sentenced to 11 years in California State Prison on gross vehicular manslaughter. While making the decision, the judge also took note of the fact that Leeman had a previous DUI conviction in juvenile court when he was 17, and should have been aware of the dangers of drinking and driving.

For Whitney's family, it's a bittersweet moment. They have doggedly pursued the case, and say the verdict might help them find peace.

Every year hundreds of thousands of people go against their better judgment and get behind the wheel, too intoxicated to see straight. They not only risk their own lives, but also endanger the lives and safety of the countless others unlucky enough to share the roads with them.

If you have lost a loved one or been injured as a result of an accident where the other person was clearly under the influence, you have rights that you need to protect. Call the personal injury lawyers at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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DUI Identified as Cause of San Diego, California Car Crash
August 22, 2007

Even small amounts of alcohol can have profound impacts on a person's behavior and motor functions. A blood alcohol content level as low as .03%, well below California's legal limit of .08%, can lower a person's attention span, hinder decision making skills, and slow reaction time. This is why it is absolutely critical to never get behind the wheel even when you are just slightly buzzed. It might lead to terrible tragedies like the one that happened recently in San Diego.

On August 21, a San Diego, California woman was killed when the car she was traveling in was rear ended by a Toyota Highlander at a traffic intersection on the Mira Mesa Boulevard near Camino Ruiz. The woman, later identified by the San Diego County Medical Examiner's office as Mira Mesa resident Jenily Periarce Mendoza, died instantly, while the driver and the front seat passenger were rushed to hospital with severe internal injuries. The accident occurred shortly after midnight. The driver of the Toyota Highlander, 39-year-old Homer Namoca, was taken into custody on suspicion of DUI and vehicular manslaughter.

Every 20 minutes in this country, somebody dies a wrongful death in a drunk driving accident. That makes it a total of 71 lives lost per day. In California alone, close to 200,000 persons are arrested for DUI every year. A large percentage of them, unfortunately get away with a misdemeanor charge and a slap on the wrist. This is the reason why so many instances of DUI are repeat offenders.

If you've been injured or lost a loved one in a car accident where the other person was under the influence, call the drunk driving accident attorneys at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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