Teen arrested after drunk driving accident in South San Francisco
Teen Arrested After South San Francisco Drunk Driving Accident
A drunk teen driver crashed into several cars in South San Francisco recently. Accidents involving inexperienced motorists and alcohol are especially dangerous.
According to a Bay City News report, a 16-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and theft after he allegedly stole a car and crashed it into several parked vehicles in South San Francisco. He immediately fled the scene, but police officers found him shortly thereafter near the crash site.
This report involved two circumstances that often lead to San Francisco car accidents: drunk driving and inexperienced motorists. In California, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to consume alcohol before driving, as the blood alcohol content limit for these drivers is .01 percent – the equivalent of less than one drink for most people.
According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 28 people die in these types of accidents each day across the U.S., and more than 10 million people admit to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol each year. Car accidents in general are the leading cause of death for teenagers, and about 25 percent of these fatal crashes involve at least one impaired underage driver.
The dangers of drunk driving are exacerbated for teenage motorists, who are not as experienced behind the wheel and who are more likely to get into a car accident, even when alcohol is not involved. The California Department of Motor Vehicles cites a number of risk factors for teen drivers, including the tendency to take unnecessary risks, the inability to detect and react to hazards, a lack of skill behind the wheel and the distractions that passengers and mobile devices can present.
Steps to take after a California auto accident
Whether your motor vehicle accident involved a drunk driver, an inexperienced teen driver or both, there are a number of steps you should take immediately afterward to ensure you protect your rights and best interests – especially if a personal injury claim might be necessary. These include the following:
- Check on everyone: The immediate aftermath of a car crash can be chaotic, but if you’re able to do so, you should check on everyone in your vehicle and all of the other cars involved make sure everyone is OK.
- Call the police: Your next step should be to call 911 and report the accident. If the driver who caused the accident is intoxicated, officers will likely make an arrest. Regardless, be sure to contact law enforcement officials so that there will be a police report proving that the crash took place.
- Seek medical attention: If you or one of your passengers requires immediate medical assistance, do so right away. Even if your injuries are relatively minor, you should still visit a doctor as soon as you can in case they worsen over time. Keep records of all treatment you receive, including the costs involved.
- Gather contact information: Make sure you have the driver’s license numbers, addresses, license plate numbers and phone numbers of the other individuals involved in the motor vehicle accident. You should also speak to any witnesses and make sure you have their contact information in case you need it later.
- Contact your insurance company: Even if you were not at all at fault for the accident, report it to your auto insurer right away. This can help you gain a quicker resolution to your claim in case you need immediate financial assistance covering the costs of injuries or property damage.
- Contact an attorney: A skilled legal professional will help you seek monetary damages from the parties responsible for the accident. This process can be complicated when a teen driver or drunk driver caused a crash, so be sure to meet with an attorney who has experience taking on these types of claims.
If you’ve been involved in an auto accident with a reckless, negligent or impaired driver, it’s important to seek the compensation you deserve to cover lost wages, pain and suffering, medical bills and other expenses. Consult a dedicated San Francisco motor vehicle accident lawyer to help you through the process.