Santa Rosa drunk driving injury attorney Tag Archives

We talk about drunk driving fairly often on this blog. One reason is our commitment to advocacy — as a Sonoma injury law firm we are proud to advocate on behalf of those injured or killed by drunk drivers. Another reason is our commitment to prevention – drunk driving accidents are 100% preventable and we hope the information we provide helps convince people that alcohol and driving do not mix. Today’s post looks at a frightening drunk driving accident in Petaluma and then takes a closer look at the meaning of blood alcohol content (“BAC”) numbers and how they impact a person’s ability to drive.

Driver Slams into Window of Petaluma Business

According to a report by CBS San Francisco, police arrested a man early Monday morning after a scary crash in Petaluma. Just after 1:30 AM, police responded to a call from the 100 block of Petaluma Boulevard North. When they arrived, they found a car had driven into the display window of a business which, luckily, was closed at the time of the incident.

As a DUI injury law firm in Sonoma County, we believe our obligation to represent our clients includes ensuring they understand the legal process. One of the first things we explain about California DUI injury law is something anyone involved in a legal dispute should know — there are separate legal systems for criminal and civil matters. Injured parties can file (and win!) civil claims whether or not a criminal charge is filed based on the underlying incident. Despite the separation, we believe it is helpful for those injured by a drunk driver to understand a bit about criminal DUI charges in California.

The Underlying Laws Against Drinking and Driving

California law contains two broad prohibitions against drunk driving, Vehicle Code 23152(a) and (b). Section (a) is more general and makes it illegal to drive while under the influence of alcohol. Section (b) is more specific and prohibits anyone with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher from driving in the state. Notably, this means a person can actually be charged with drunk driving even if their blood alcohol level is below the so-called “legal limit.” Police often charge drunk drivers with both offenses. Ultimately, defendants can be convicted of both offenses but they can only receive a punishment for one.

Articles Tagged with Santa Rosa drunk driving injury attorney

Drunk Driving: What Do BAC Numbers Really Mean?

Across the Aisle: A Brief Look at the Criminal Side of California DUI Law