Bakersfield Personal Injury Lawyers

Drinking and driving seems to always bring consequences, but these situations are particularly tragic when someone who was not engaging in such conduct is killed.  Unfortunately, that could prove to be what occurred with a fatal Porterville car accident that occurred this week when a driver lost control of his vehicle.  The driver survived the crash, but his passenger was killed in the process.

According to Porterville police, the now-defendant, 32-year-old Jason Branch of Porterville, was driving his Chevrolet pickup truck at approximately 1 a.m. on Tuesday.  He was headed in a northbound direction on Main Street in Porterville when he failed to negotiate a curve at the intersection with Yates Avenue.  As a result, the truck went off the road, struck a fence and came to rest after smashing into a telephone pole.  His passenger, Aradia Adina Carrigan of Bakersfield, was killed, and Branch is facing DUI and manslaughter charges.

California Car Accident Statistics

We’d first like to send our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Carrigan.  Losing a life in such a sudden and violent manner is a terrible tragedy.  Unfortunately, this situation will also add to the overall statistics regarding California car accidents.  Every year in the state, approximately 175,000 people are injured and more than 3,000 are killed in California car accidents, and more than one-third of the fatality accidents in the state list alcohol as at least a contributing factor.

Bakersfield DUI Accident Lawyers

In addition to the serious charges that the defendant faces, he could also face significant exposure to civil liability if the family of Ms. Carrigan brings a California wrongful death lawsuit against him.  Drivers owe a legal duty of care to their passengers, and if such a lawsuit was filed and successful it could bring damages to the family that compensate them for funeral, medical and burial expenses as well as lost income and loss of companionship.

If you have lost someone you love in such an occurrence, seek the help of Bakersfield wrongful death lawyers who have been successfully fighting for the rights of suffering families for many years.  Contact Chain | Cohn | Stiles today to schedule a free initial consultation.