CHINO HILLS, CA — A serious single-vehicle accident put one driver in the hospital in Chino Hills, California on Thursday, April 3rd, 2014, according to a news article from the Press Enterprise.
Investigators say 43-year-old Gary Lopez was seriously hurt when the Toyota Carolla he was driving is thought to have lost control while driving on Highway 71 around 10:30 Thursday night. The vehicle collided with a stationary wall structure before rolling and erupting into flames.
Scene of the Accident
Emergency response technicians transported Gary Lopez to a nearby hospital where an update on his condition was immediately unavailable by hospital personnel.
Authorities believe alcohol was a major factor in the accident, and expect to release more information about the crash in the coming days.
Commentary:
Bearing in mind California has no such case law, these are the kind of accidents that truly underline the need for liquor liability laws in states that currently have no such laws, or woefully inadequate ones. Dram shop laws are a set of regulations put forth by state lawmakers that put liability onto bars that over-serve people who kill or injure themselves or others in an accident. These also open the door for civil action to punish bars that fail to properly follow these regulations. Meaning, if a person stumbles into a local tavern who is clearly intoxicated with bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, difficulty walking, and an alcoholic fragrance about them, that tavern and the people that work there have a duty to the public at large not to provide this person with alcohol. If the person is given alcohol in a state with adequate liquor liability laws, that bar is then liable for any accident caused by their customer. Bars will only begin to see drunk drivers as a liability when bars are held accountable for them, alongside the driver.
–Grossman Law Offices
