Corona Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
Drunk driving presents a real risk that causes injuries and deaths every year in Corona. Accidents involving drunk driving are often devastating and permanently impact the lives of victims and their families. Although it is possible to prevent drunk driving accidents, many still drive while intoxicated, whether on alcohol or other substances.
If a victim sustains injuries or dies in a drunk driving accident, the victim and their loved ones deserve to pursue total compensation for all related damages. These potential damages often include steep medical costs associated with short- to long-term treatment, along with less quantifiable pain and suffering, among other damages.
If victims or their loved ones would like to seek compensation following a drunk driving accident, the Corona drunk driving accident lawyers at Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers are here to help.
Trusted Corona Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys
At Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC, our team of drunk driving accident lawyers in Corona has successfully represented many victims. If you or a loved one has sustained injuries because of a drunk driving accident, you can trust our legal team to help build a successful case and seek the full amount of compensation warranted.
Levik Yarian, the firm’s founding attorney, has seen repeated recognition as a leading trial lawyer representing clients in the greater Los Angeles area. He and other lawyers in the firm are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an elite group of trial attorneys with a history of winning settlements and verdicts worth millions of dollars.
California Drunk Driving Statistics
Across the U.S., nearly 28 people die in drunk driving accidents, which translates to almost 10,000 fatalities every year. Many of these accidents and deaths occur in California, from large cities like Los Angeles to smaller suburbs such as Corona.
Drunk driving remains a huge concern in California, with statistics revealing that:
- Over 1,000 deaths occur in the state on an annual basis because of drunk driving incidents
- Alcohol-impaired driving accidents account for nearly 30 percent of all traffic fatalities in California
- The majority of serious injuries and deaths resulting from drunk driving take place in southern and central California, with 31.9 percent of driving deaths involving drunk driving in Riverside County alone
How Drunk Driving Accidents Occur in Corona
Drunk driving incidents can take place anywhere in the country and California, and Corona is no exception. Many factors may contribute to drunk driving in Riverside County, including Corona and other nearby cities. The following are some of those potential factors.
#1. Dangerous Intersections
Like other counties, Riverside County has several intersections that are notorious for accidents that often take place, the risk for which increases dramatically when drunk driving is involved.
Some of the most dangerous intersections in Riverside County, where Corona is located, include:
- Tyler Street and Magnolia Avenue in Riverside
- Arlington Avenue and Van Buren in Riverside
- Ynez Road and Winchester in Temecula
- Bridge Street and Gilman Springs in Moreno Valley
#2. The Local Nightlife
Like other cities in the Los Angeles area, Corona is home to plenty of nightlife, with bars and grills, nightclubs, brewhouses, and many other local hotspots attracting visitors and residents alike. If people do not want to stay in town for the night, Los Angeles is also a 51-minute drive from Corona, which is likely to encourage many drivers to make the trip to and from LA overnight or over the weekend. Fifty-one minutes is also a long enough drive to present many opportunities for drunk drivers to get involved in an accident along the way.
Even if individuals only consume a few beers before making their journey, they increase the risk of drunk driving collisions dramatically.
#3. Limited Public Transportation
While Corona offers a few different options for public transportation, these choices are limited. For instance, the Metrolink Train that passes through Corona and runs to LA has limited hours of service, excluding the late-night hours. Corona also includes a system of buses, including the Corona Cruiser’s Blue and Red Lines and Dial-a-Ride, but their hours are also limited to the morning, afternoon, and early evening hours. Because of these limited service hours, people who wish to enjoy a night out may not find a convenient way back via this mode of transportation.
Some individuals may opt for a taxi or rideshare service. However, many people may still misjudge their abilities and choose to drive themselves, putting themselves and others at risk of severe injury or death.
#4. The Ideal Vacation Spot
Not far from Los Angeles and other cities in Los Angeles County, Corona is a popular vacation spot. Tourists can enjoy themselves while staying in Corona, which often involves imbibing alcoholic beverages at popular hotspots. However, they may also require transportation to get around, which could involve drunk drivers getting behind the wheel of their rental cars when they are too intoxicated to drive.
Common Signs of Drunk and Drugged Driving
In addition to drunk driving, some drivers may engage in drugged driving, which simply involves driving any type of vehicle while under the effects of mind-altering drugs. If a driver operates a vehicle on drugs, these substances impair the driver’s brain, preventing it from functioning the way it would while sober.
Both alcohol and other drugs can affect drivers in many ways, including:
- Slowed reaction times
- Reduced coordination
- Impaired judgment of distance and time
- Inattention on the road
- Zigzagging
Other Types of Drugs Behind Drunk or Drugged Driving
Alcohol is one of many substances that can impair drivers and dramatically increase the risk of accidents on the road.
Apart from alcohol, some potential substances that are often responsible for DUI accidents and injuries include:
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Crack
- Methamphetamines
- Other prescription drugs such as stimulants, depressants, and opioids
- OTC drugs and certain herbal supplements
What Injuries Can Develop in Corona Drunk Driving Accidents?
Often, drunk driving results in catastrophic accidents and injuries, along with fatalities. Individuals who survive the initial crash frequently sustain serious, life-threatening injuries. Many accidents result in permanent disabilities that affect victims for the rest of their lives.
The injuries sustained in drunk driving incidents can vary greatly depending on the nature of the accident.
The following are some of the many potential injuries that victims may endure during and following a drunk driving accident in Corona:
- Spinal cord damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Damage to internal organs and bleeding
- Severe scarring and disfigurement
- Facial trauma, such as eye injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Broken bones
Who Is Responsible for Drunk Driving Accidents in Corona?
In many cases, the drunk driver is solely responsible for drunk driving accidents resulting from their impairment.
However, some cases may involve shared liability in which others are partly responsible, such as:
- Alcohol Vendors: California law states that alcohol vendors may be liable for drunk driving accidents if they sold alcohol to a drunk driver under the legal drinking age and the patron was obviously intoxicated when serving them.
- Employers: Employers may also be responsible for drunk driving incidents if the driver was an employee of the employer and the accident occurred while driving within the scope of employment.
- Other Third Parties: Some cases may involve other third parties who share responsibility for an accident due to their negligence.
Generally, the best way to determine who is responsible for a drunk driving accident is to consult with a drunk driving accident lawyer in Corona, like the team at Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers. The right attorney can help determine if victims have a viable case, identify responsible parties, and seek compensation from all liable individuals or entities.
The Types of Damages Available in Corona Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuits
Following a drunk driving collision, victims may be able to recover compensation for related damages sustained, including medical bills and other financial losses. These types of compensation may include:
Economic Damages
Economic or monetary damages are easily quantifiable losses that result from an accident, culminating in direct costs that come with a specific monetary value.
Economic damages in these cases often include:
- Past, existing, and ongoing medical bills for treating accident injuries, including ambulance fees, hospital stays, emergency medical services, doctor visits, prescription medications, and assistive medical devices
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- At-home nursing services
- Rehabilitative services, such as physical and occupational therapy
- Damage to personal property
- Replacement household services, including grocery shopping, cleaning, and child care services
- Other types of out-of-pocket costs
Non-Economic Damages
Unlike economic damages, non-economic or non-monetary damages are harder to quantify, as they do not come with a defined dollar amount.
Non-economic damages can include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of a limb
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Mental distress
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of reputation
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Inconvenience
Punitive Damages
In rare instances, drunk driving accident victims may qualify for punitive damages. While economic and non-economic damages compensate victims for the losses sustained due to an accident, punitive damages punish defendants who engage in particularly negligent or malicious behavior. The intention behind punitive damages is to deter others from committing the same or similar acts. To recover punitive damages, plaintiffs and their attorneys would need to prove that the defendant intentionally disregarded the rights and safety of the victim. It is often easier to recover punitive damages in drunk driving cases than other more traditional cases resulting from distracted driving or speeding.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim for a Corona Drunk Driving Accident?
In every state, including California, a “statute of limitations” determines how much time accident victims have to file a claim or lawsuit after the accident. If the individual fails to file before the statute of limitations runs out, they may not recover compensation.
In California, individuals have two years to file a drunk driving accident claim or another personal injury claim, starting from the date of the accident. On the other hand, some cases may involve exceptions that give people more or less time to file their claims.
To help ensure that they file a claim before reaching the statute of limitations, accident victims should speak with a Corona drunk driving accident lawyer as soon as possible following the accident. At Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, we can review your case in an individual consultation, determine liability, figure out how much time you have to file a claim, and we may be able to assist with gathering evidence. We can also prepare motions and legal documents for filing long before our clients run out of time.
Consult the Reliable Corona Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers at Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC
Drunk driving accidents and other types of incidents can cause serious, devastating injuries or death. The trusted attorneys at Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers understand how serious drunk driving accidents are and work to ensure victims receive the compensation they deserve for this type of negligence. We hope to give our clients the ability to recover as fully as possible from these accidents and recover total compensation for all economic and non-economic damages, along with punitive damages in some cases.
We can connect you with one of our Corona drunk driving accident lawyers to begin:
- Reviewing your accident, conducting a case evaluation, and determining whether you have a valid claim
- Determining which legal options are available to you
- Answering all of your questions about your accident and the claims or lawsuit process
- Working with experts, including accident deconstructionists and doctors who may help support your case
- Negotiating with the opposing parties, including the drunk driver, the driver’s insurance company, and any other liable parties
- Taking the case to trial, if needed, in the event the other party does not agree to a fair settlement
Have you or a loved one sustained injuries following a drunk driving accident? Turn to the dependable attorneys at Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers for the legal assistance you need. Give us a call today at (951) 523-0000, or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
Yarian Drunk Driving Accident Corona, CA Office Location
1611 Pomona Rd #222Corona, CA 92878
Phone: +1 951-523-0000
