Are Drunk Drivers Involved in Accident Always at Fault?

In the latest harrowing news coming from California, a woman was killed in a car crash. The police arrested a man who is supposed to have been drinking under the influence. Pages in news outlets read “Woman, 21, Killed in Crash Allegedly Caused By Drunk Driver.” Alleged is the keyword here. 

Between 2003 and 2012, according to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, nearly 10,327 people died in car crashes that involved drunk drivers in California. The statistics are certainly sobering.
But like we said—alleged is the keyword.
Is it possible that the accused isn’t always drunk?
It happens more often than you think.

False Accusations

We’ve all heard news or stories about people being implicated wrongfully in certain crimes. Many people have been wrongfully arrested, jailed, and convicted while they were completely innocent. False accusations of drunk driving, therefore, are no alien phenomenon either.

The accusation and subsequent arrest over false drunk driving can land you in hot water with the law and civil administration. You’re looking at months in jail, thousands of dollars in fine, and a social stigma that you’ll have to carry for the rest of your life.
Having a DUI slapped onto you affects your whole life and your future. There’s the revocation of your license, alcohol tests and monitors, bail and trial, a record, and the stress of prison time. It’s not pretty—especially when you’re not at fault.

Understanding Liability

If you’re caught in an accident behind the wheel while drunk and someone is injured, a personal injury claim is swift to follow. Your insurer will have to pay them—but not necessarily in full.
Let’s say, there was someone else in the car with you, a friend or a colleague or a person you were dropping off, whose involvement caused the accident. In such cases, the liability becomes shared, and you end up taking only half the blame. The insurance, too, is reduced.
In other cases, you might not even have been driving, but only a passenger with a non-drunk driver behind the wheel. The law enforcement officers might mistake that you were driving since they recover a drunk person from the wreck.

So, What Should You Do if You’re Facing Such a Time?

The first and foremost thing to do, of course, is to contact a lawyer immediately. You might not be able to determine liability properly, but they definitely can. In case you’re looking for a lawyer in Chico, CA, don’t hesitate to reach out to Marquez Law Offices. Dealing with traffic accidents is one of our specialties. 

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