DUI Crash in Newport Beach Leaves Two Critically Injured

Two people suffered critical injuries in a Newport Beach car accident after a vehicle went out of control, drove on to the sidewalk and struck a pedestrian on West Coast Highway the afternoon of June 11, 2017. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the major injury collision occurred when the 37-year-old Newport Beach man was jogging westbound on a sidewalk of West Coast Highway.

The 2000 Toyota Celica traveling west struck the jogger in the 5900 block of West Coast Highway near Cappy’s Café. A female passenger in the Celica was also critically injured. The driver, 22-year-old Joshua Baird, suffered minor injuries, but was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. The male jogger and the female passenger were transported to an area hospital. The investigation is still ongoing.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured victims of this crash. We wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

DUI Statistics

According to the California Highway Patrol’s 2013 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), one fatality and 58 injuries were reported as a result of DUI collisions in the city of Newport Beach. In Orange County as a whole, 60 people died and 1,235 were injured as a result of DUI crashes during the same year.

California DUI Law

Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the Celica lost control of the vehicle and drove over the sidewalk seriously injuring the jogger as well as his own passenger. Under California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a), driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is illegal. It is also against the law to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher.

Rights of Victims

In this case, the pedestrian and passenger who were injured can hold the at-fault driver financially responsible for their losses. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Victims in such cases need a knowledgeable Newport Beach personal injury lawyer on their side who has significant experience going after DUI drivers and holding them accountable.

In addition to facing criminal charges and penalties, DUI drivers can also be held liable in a civil lawsuit for the injuries and damages they cause to victims. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.