Los Angeles Injury Attorney Blog

A 22-year-old Carpinteria woman died early Sunday morning after an early morning crash caused by a suspected drunk driver, the Ventura County Star reported. The victim, Elizabeth Gonzalez, was one of two passengers in a vehicle driven by Alma Ruiz, 29, of Santa Barbara. Around 2 a.m., Ruiz was driving eastbound on Bates Ranch Road, near Highway 101 and Rincon Beach Park, when she apparently lost control of her vehicle on a curve and struck a power pole. The pole was sheared off at its base and fell into the road. The car directly behind Ruiz's car also crashed into the wreckage. Ruiz and the other passenger in her vehicle, Yahaira Martinez, 21, of Carpentaria, both suffered moderate injuries. Gonzalez died of her injuries at the scene of the accident.

The cause of the July 4th Bates Ranch Road accident remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. However, if news reports are accurate, this accident was caused by the suspected drunk driver, Alma Ruiz, who was arrested following the crash. It is always heartbreaking when anyone dies or is seriously hurt in a collision caused by a drunk driver. Drunk driving is an epidemic that is 100% preventable.

Driver Liability for Passenger Wrongful Death

When a driver causes an accident that results in injury or death to passengers, that driver may be liable for the passengers' serious injuries or wrongful death. In situations such as this one, the family members of the victims are well-advised to contact a California wrongful death attorney about the accident, and the possibility of holding the suspected drunk driver accountable the accident she caused in a personal injury or wrongful death action. Damages obtained in a wrongful death claim may include compensation for funeral and burial expenses, anticipated future earnings and wages, and loss of love, care, and companionship. Personal injury claim damages may include compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings and pain and suffering. In some cases involving drunk drivers, punitive damages may also be available.