A 26-year-old woman was injured in a San Francisco car accident after the vehicle she was driving was struck head-on by a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in the San Jose Mercury News, the car accident occurred on Holohan Road, near Highway 152, the evening of January 5, 2010 in Watsonville. California Highway Patrol officials said Savatiel Sanchez Guttierrez, 23, crossed over the double yellow lines and drove north in the southbound lane before hitting the woman's Toyota Camry head-on. The woman was transported to an area hospital with injuries described as "moderate." Guttierrez was arrested and charged with felony driving under the influence and a misdemeanor count of not having a driver's license.

It is indeed fortunate that the driver of the Toyota Camry did not sustain major or fatal injuries in this car accident. I wish her the very best for a quick and complete recovery. She will be in my prayers.

DUI Car Accidents

According to California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 16 injuries reported in Watsonville as a result of car accidents involving drunk drivers. In Santa Cruz County as a whole, seven deaths and 159 injuries occurred in 2007 due to alcohol-related car accidents.

Drunk Driving Laws in California

Driving under the influence of alcohol is against California law. California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) states: "It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle." The same code section also states that it is illegal for any person with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or more to drive a vehicle. This driver, Guttierrez, was not only driving under the influence recklessly on the wrong side of the highway, but was also driving without a license. In fact, officials say he has never been licensed.

Contacting an Experienced Injury Lawyer

The victim in this case would be well-advised to get a reputed San Francisco personal injury lawyer on her side, who will help her secure fair compensation for her injuries and loss. In such cases, victims could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy and other related costs. If Guttierrez did not even have a driver's license, I would be surprised if he had car insurance. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer should also be able to advise this victim about how her car insurance policy applies to an incident involving an uninsured or underinsured driver.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.