A DUI collision in Costa Mesa resulted in serious head injuries to a 56-year-old man the morning of May 20, 2010. The Orange County Register reports that the man had stepped out of his Ford F150 truck to open the gate of a business on Placentia Avenue near 17th Street, when an Infiniti G35 driven by Jeffrey Scott Marshall, 27, struck the Ford truck, pushing it into the victim. The injured man was transported to an area trauma center for treatment of head injuries. Police booked Marshall on suspicion of DUI.

I sympathize with this victim and hope he has not suffered major injuries in this collision. I wish him the very best for a quick and full recovery. He will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Car Accidents

There were six deaths and 785 injuries involving car accidents in Costa Mesa in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol's traffic accident statistics. In Orange County, 152 people died and 13,414 were injured as a result of car accidents in 2008.

California DUI Law

California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) states: "It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle." In this particular case, we do not know what the driver's blood alcohol level was, but I trust that will be part of the police investigation.

Fault and Liability

In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, car accident victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization and even long tern care if catastrophic injuries are involved. Drunk drivers could and should be held be held civilly and criminally responsible for their actions. Injured victims in such cases would be well-advised to seek the counsel of a reputed Orange County personal injury lawyer, who will make sure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.

Have you ever been the victim of a DUI accident? We would like to hear about your experience.

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.

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