Drunk Driving Victims
4 Ways California, and the Nation, Are Combating Drunk Driving
| June 23rd, 2014
Drunk driving has reached epidemic levels in the United States today. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 32 motorists are killed each day in our country as the result of crashes that are caused by a drunk driver. This disturbing statistic leaves many wondering what is being done to keep intoxicated motorists off the road and the California DUI injury attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers point to three specific ways this problem is currently being addressed, which include:- Education and Awareness- Organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving are working to let drivers of all ages know about the serious risks that are posed by getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.
- Enforcement- Police officers and troopers across California and the nation are holding sobriety checkpoints to catch impaired drivers in the act, which has led to an increase in prosecutions and has successfully deterred some drunk drivers from taking to the roads.
- Technology- Convicted drunk drivers may be required to have ignition interlock devices installed on their vehicles. This piece of technology prevents motorists from being able to start their vehicles if there is alcohol in their systems.
- Sober Ride Programs- At Berg Injury Lawyers, we work to keep drunk drivers off the road through our Safe and Sober campaign, which provides free rides home to those who have had too much to drink.
2 Ways Californians Are Working to Prevent Drunk Driving Accidents
| April 21st, 2014
There is an epidemic of drunk driving spreading across California and the United States, especially among teenagers. Estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show approximately 7,000 motorists between ages 15-20 are killed every year as the result of drunk driving accidents. That means one life is lost to the behavior every 15 minutes. In an effort to combat the dangers drunk driving poses to Californians, a realistic safety campaign has been launched that focuses on this particular statistic. The Pleasanton Weekly explains high school students who participate in the Every 15 Minutes campaign view a crash scene that has been staged to include their peers, law enforcement, and emergency responders. They are then told that one of their peers was drinking and driving, and caused the crash that claimed the lives of local students and left others seriously injured. The driver “responsible” for the wreck is arrested and charged, while the deceased and injured are taken from the scene. Later in the day, selected students are pulled from class every 15 minutes to illustrate how quickly drunk drivers take lives. Participation in programs like this leaves many wondering what they can do to prevent drunk driving accidents. The California personal injury attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers explain the best way to prevent drunk driving is to use designated drivers, cabs, or public transportation after consuming alcohol, and to encourage others to do the same. In an effort to help prevent drunk driving accidents, Berg Injury Lawyers sponsors a program called Safe and Sober, which provides free cab rides home for residents of Sacramento and San Francisco on certain holidays. The Safe and Sober program will offer free rides home during the upcoming Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Check out the firm’s Facebook page for details on how to get a free cab ride home this May 5.San Francisco Beer Week Taking Place Over the Next Several Days
| February 10th, 2014
Craft beer has taken the United States by storm in recent years, but San Francisco is a city that has a deep history established in the brewing of quality suds. The California Personal Injury Attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers explain the city’s relationship with beer is now celebrated annually and the event kicked off this past Friday. San Francisco Beer Week is being celebrated from February 7 – 16 across the Bay Area. Events that will occur throughout the week include meet-and-greets with some of the greatest brewers in the state of California as well as numerous tastings. Some of those tastings will include food pairings prepared by some of the country’s top chefs as well. All week long, Half Moon Bay Brewing will be doing beer and dessert pairings, while Social Kitchen & Brewing held a Strong Beer Brunch over the weekend. Other breweries that are participating include Anchor Steam, Bear Republic, and Gigantic Brewing just to name a few. Some of the events may require reservations, but many others are free to the public to attend. The attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers understand how easy it can be to overindulge in consumption at events like these, which can increase the chances of becoming a California Drunk Driving Victim. That is why the firm asks attendees to never get behind the wheel of a vehicle after consuming alcohol and to utilize a cab or designated driver to get home safely when drinking.California Law Enforcement Utilizing New Technology To Take Drugged Drivers Off The Road
| December 30th, 2013
December 30, 2013 While most motorists are aware of the dangers posed by drunk driving, many remain unaware the same dangers are presented by drivers who choose to get behind the wheel after consuming certain drugs. In fact, drugged driving is becoming more prevalent than ever before on the roads of California. The California Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers explain that in an effort to combat the problem, law enforcement is looking into advancements in technology that may be beneficial in detecting drugs. States such as California have laws preventing motorists from operating a vehicle while under the influence of controlled substances, like certain drugs. However, an article from RT News explains one of the most difficult parts of enforcing drugged driving laws is determining what type of drug the driver has consumed and quantifying their level of intoxication. That’s why this New Year’s Eve, a holiday that notoriously brings drugged and drunk drivers to the road, law enforcement in certain areas of the state will be utilizing a piece of technology that allows officers to take a saliva swab from a potentially intoxicated driver’s mouth and determine if they have consumed any number of drugs recently. The results from the test are available almost immediately, rather than the days and weeks it could previously take officers to get test results back. The California Personal Injury Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers are hopeful the new technology is effective in keeping motorists safe this holiday season!California Drunk Driving Victim In Critical Condition Following Accident
| July 15th, 2013
July 15, 2013 While most motorists are aware of the risks involved with driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, many people fail to recognize the same dangers of injuring one’s self or another person are present when riding a bicycle after drinking. For instance, a 24-year-old cyclist is facing charges of riding under the influence of alcohol after seriously injuring a pedestrian in a California Bicycle Accident that occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. in the town of Truckee over the 4th of July holiday. The accused was riding her bicycle along a road following the banks of Donner Lake when she accidently struck a pedestrian. Investigators were able to determine the cyclist was legally drunk at the time of the collision and she was charged with Driving Under the Influence of alcohol. Meanwhile, the California Drunk Driving Victim was rushed to a local trauma center, where he was last listed in critical condition. According to an article from the Silicon Valley Mercury News, more charges could be filed pending the outcome of a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. The California Personal Injury Attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers would like to remind all travelers of the importance of never operating any type of machinery after consuming any amount of alcohol. Instead, utilize a designated driver or a taxi to get you home safely.New Program Designed To Prevent California Drunk Driving Accidents
| February 18th, 2013
February 18, 2013 California car accidents are listed as one of the leading causes of death amongst teens in the state. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has decided to combat this problem by hosting a series of programs titled Steering Kids Straight that is aimed at educating young drivers about the dangers they will face when on the road and how they might be able to prevent accidents from occurring. According to CBS 8 News, the first installment of the program was conducted by several California high school students a few weeks ago and featured a mock crash scene portraying the deadly results California Drunk Driving Accidents can have. The scenario involved two vehicles that had collided due to a drunk driver. While students pretended to be killed and injured in the accident, another reenactment showed participants what it may be like if they were caught driving drunk. Over the next several months, students will continue to document what the outcomes of such an accident would be like. The purpose of the program is to show teens the devastating effects poor decisions being made behind the wheel of an automobile can have. The California Personal Injury Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers recognize how dangerous drinking and driving can be and are hopeful this program, and others like it, will be successful in teaching teen drivers the dangers of getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol.Drugged Driving Becoming A Major Concern In California
| December 10th, 2012
December 10, 2012 With the number of marijuana-related drugged driving accidents on the rise, many citizens are concerned about marijuana use and highway safety. CBS News discusses the problem and what law enforcement is doing to solve it. Santa Cruz County seems to be at the center of the debate, with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reporting five of the eight fatal motor vehicle accidents in the area over the past year caused by drivers who tested positive for the drug. Statistics show that drivers who smoke marijuana are twice as likely to be involved in accidents as sober drivers, and numbers from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence show that around 20 percent of drivers involved in accidents tested positive for marijuana consumption. Officers say driving under the influence of marijuana can be extremely dangerous because of the drug’s effect on perceptions of both time and space. To combat the growing problem, the CHP has begun an awareness campaign with the public to educate citizens about the dangers of drugged driving. The California Personal Injury Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers say drivers are responsible for making the decision to not get behind the wheel after ingesting a mind-altering substance and failure to do so can be considered negligent in the event of a California Car Accident.New Programs Aim To Decrease Number Of Drunk Drivers in Northern California
| June 5th, 2012
June 4, 2012 Shasta County, California, has seen an alarming amount of drunk drivers so far this year, especially among minors. According to KRCRTV 7 News, 19 individuals were arrested over Memorial Day weekend, which is nearly a 20 percent increase from 2011. The issue continued to affect locals following the holiday weekend. This past Friday, two people were seriously injured as the result of a crash caused by an underage drunk driver. Reports indicate that the accident occurred at around 6:45 p.m. at the intersection of Neal and West Sutter Roads. Police believe that an intoxicated 16-year-old driver lost control of a 1992 Nissan Pathfinder, causing it to roll several times. All four passengers of the vehicle were taken to local hospitals for treatment. Two remain hospitalized in serious condition. In an effort to combat underage drinking and driving, students at Willows High School were able to witness the real-life sentencing of DUI offenders in the school’s gymnasium last week. Officials state that allowing the students to view the real-life consequences of driving under the influence impacts students much more than student reenactments. Following the hearings, students stated that they would definitely think twice before drinking and driving. The California Accident Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers hope that programs such as these, along with law enforcement’s utilization of saturation patrols, will help reduce the number of California Drunk Driving Car Accidents and deaths caused by drinking and driving.Several Tips To Keep Motorists Safe During High Speed Pursuits
| January 16th, 2012
January 16, 2012 High-speed vehicle pursuits down the highway gets our adrenaline pumping in the movies. But what if you found yourself to be the helpless bystander of a real car chase during your daily commute? This happens almost on a daily basis across California, and observations have shown that most motorists don’t know what to do. An article in The Sacramento Bee described a chase that occurred several weeks ago along California’s Highway 99. News footage shows that as the chase progresses, the cars around the chase acted as if nothing was happening. They stayed at the same speed and made no efforts to get out of the way. California Highway Patrol (CHP) says that one reason this occurs is that drivers don’t scan their mirrors often enough. They suggest that motorists check all of their mirrors every 15-20 seconds. If you find yourself in the middle of a high-speed pursuit, CHP Trooper Mike Bradley stated that you should not slow down, but turn on your right blinker and work your way over to the shoulder of the highway. If you see a crime scene ahead, pull over and stop well behind officer vehicles. The California auto accident attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers fight for victims who have been injured in accidents and support community safety campaigns throughout the year in order to prevent accidents. If you are the victim of a car accident, contact an experienced attorney today.Free Cab Rides Offered In The Bay Area Halloween Night
| October 31st, 2011
October 31, 2011 Tonight, trick-or-treaters will roam the streets in their ghoulish disguises on a quest for candy. Unfortunately, they could possibly have to share those streets with drivers who may have drank too much while celebrating the holiday, which puts everyone in grave danger. In order to help alleviate this problem, free cab rides home are being offered to anyone in the Bay area. The program is called Safe and Sober and is sponsored by California Personal Injury Attorney, William Berg, and his firm, Berg Injury Lawyers. They began the program seven years ago and have offered the rides during major holidays every year since. The rides will be offered between 10:00 PM tonight until 4:00 AM the tomorrow morning. The cab companies will offer the rides to anyone who has been drinking and needs a safe way home from a bar or restaurant. For a Safe and Sober ride this year, contact the following cab company within the your area:- Sacramento – Call Yellow Cab Company of Sacramento at (916) 444-2222.
- Alameda – Call Veterans Cab at (800) 281‐4488.
- San Francisco – Call Luxor Cab at (415) 282‐4141.
