In what is a tragic reminder of the consequences of drinking and driving, four teens were injured, three seriously, in a horrific SUV rollover crash in Folsom late Wednesday night. Folsom Police say alcohol and drugs appeared to play a role in the solo vehicle crash. Broken whiskey bottles, marijuana, and other drug paraphernalia were found nearby, the Sacramento Bee reported.
The accident occurred on Heritage Place just before midnight on Wednesday, July 7th. Police say the SUV was speeding north on Heritage when the driver swerved onto a sidewalk and rolled multiple times. The 17-year-old unlicensed driver, the only one of the four occupants wearing a seat belt, suffered only minor injuries. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence causing serious injury and booked at the Sacramento Juvenile Hall. The three other teens, two males and one female, suffered very serious injuries. Folsom police are still investigating the cause of the accident.
Social Host Laws
Earlier this year, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a "Social Host Ordinance" that holds adults responsible for hosting, or knowingly providing a venue for gatherings, when they reasonably should have known underage drinking would occur. In California, parents and adults who furnish alcohol to teens can be found liable for injuries caused by drinking and driving accidents. "Social Host" ordinances address the problems of underage drinking facilitated by enabling parents and other adults who are aware of underage alcohol consumption at private residences, but fail to stop it. (See News 10 story " Sacramento County law against underage drinking could land parents in jail.")
Personal Injury Liability Considerations
When an underage driver causes an accident where alcohol plays a role, law enforcement, insurance companies and parents will look to the source of the alcohol and drugs. In this situation, it is possible that whoever furnished the alcohol that was consumed prior to this accident may be liable for the victims' injuries and other expenses related to the accident. While this Folsom injury accident is under investigation, the parents of the teen victims may consider speaking to a Sacramento personal injury attorney about this accident and the unique legal issues involved. An attorney who has represented victims of crashes caused by underage suspected drunk drivers can help the victims' families understand and protect their legal rights following this accident, and advise them of their best course of action going forward.
Sources: News 10, Sacramento Bee, KCRA News
Leave a comment