DUI Accident Help With Salt Lake Injury Law
An accident occurred in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, September 17th 2024. Officers were investigating a DUI crash near 1300 South 700 East shortly after one in the morning, unrelated to the accident this article is about. There were several Salt Lake City Police Department vehicles parked there for traffic control, and the suspect driver from that accident was inside of one of them. Suddenly, a man crashed into one of the parked SLCPD patrol cars that had its emergency lights activated. The impact of the crash caused a chain reaction and led to three out of the four police cars getting damaged.
Two people were injured in the crash; the 47-year-old woman that was the driver in initial investigation, as well as the officer that was initially investigating the incident. Both of them were inside of one of the SLCPD vehicles that was struck when the second crash happened. Thankfully, both people only suffered minor injuries that were not life-threatening. Officers at the scene were able to provide immediate medical attention, and then the two injured people were taken to the hospital. They were both later released. Later, the woman from the first investigation was ticketed for driving under the influence of alcohol.
The person that caused the second overnight crash was a 25-year-old man named Alonzo Zean Ganga. Unsurprisingly, he was also driving while impaired. He was not seriously injured in the accident, but was given some medical attention at the scene. Ganga basically delivered himself to the police officers by crashing into them. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail. He was arrested for investigation of failure to reduce speed or make space for a parked emergency vehicle, driving under the influence (which is a Class B misdemeanor), and two counts of causing injury from negligently operating a vehicle (which is a Class A misdemeanor).
The County Attorney’s Office will determine Ganga’s charges. Because the case involved police officers, the Utah highway Patrol is conducting the investigation to avoid bias. Alonzo Ganga was released from jail on certain conditions, including that he appears at all of his court dates.
The officer that was injured in the accident is already back to work to try and keep Salt Lake City safe. SLCPD’s Chief Mike Brown said that the incident that happened on the 17th is a clear reminder of the dangers that police officers have to face every time they’re on the job. The accident could have had much worse results; DUI accidents are among the most common types of accidents that cause fatalities. Brown urged members of the public to make responsible, safe choices so that they don’t put others in danger. This includes never driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
If you were injured by a drunk driver, it’s important to seek compensation for your damages. The person that was driving while under the influence needs to be held accountable for their irresponsible actions. When you hire a Salt Lake personal injury attorney, you can successfully pursue a personal injury claim and maximize the amount of compensation that you recover. Legal representation is crucial to success; insurance companies know that they can take advantage of victims if they don’t have a lawyer at their side.
Personal Injury Law Firm In Salt Lake City
Our team at Salt Lake Injury Law can handle your claim for you from beginning to end. This includes investigating the case to get a good grasp of what happened and gathering evidence. Recovering and documenting evidence is crucial so that it can be preserved. Photos of the scene and your injuries, doctor records, and other evidence will strengthen your case. Our experienced lawyers specialize in personal injury law, which make them well-equipped to conduct claims negotiations with the insurance company. The at-fault driver’s insurance should cover your damages.
Let’s go over the drunk driving laws of Utah. Firstly, drivers with a blood alcohol content level higher than 0.5 percent are prohibited from operating vehicles. The law also states that people may not operate vehicles while under the influence of any amount of drugs, alcohol, or combination of the two that render the person unable to safely drive. Under Utah law, people indicted for DUI will have their driver’s license suspended or revoked, depending on the severity of the case. In Utah, there is a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to minors driving while intoxicated. A minor having any measurable BAC while driving is against the law.
There are other parties that could be held liable for a drunk driving accident aside from the actual drunk driver. Someone that was injured in a DUI accident could hold the person who sold the alcohol accountable (under certain circumstances). This is referred to as Utah’s dram shop law. If an alcohol vendor sold alcohol to an underage person or someone that was already very intoxicated, then they could share fault if that person went on to cause an accident. They can also be liable if they sold alcohol to someone that they know has drinking problems.
It’s important that victims of any car accident, but especially a DUI accident, seek medical attention right away. People can get seriously injured or die from car accidents. Even if you don’t have any obvious physical injuries, you could be suffering from a different type of injury. Refusing treatment can make your condition worse and possibly lead to disability or death.
One type of injury that may go under the radar is a traumatic brain injury, a term that encompasses a variety of types of injuries. TBIs can affect a person’s ability to think and function, and should be taken seriously. Confusion, blacking out, dizziness, and headaches after being in an accident could indicate a traumatic brain injury such as a concussion. Prompt treatment is important so that you can have the best possible outcome. Severe TBIs can cause motor function and cognitive disabilities.
Broken bones are another type of injury that frequently happens from car accidents. A broken bone can range from a hairline fracture to a complete break. Bones do heal, but it takes a lot of time to fully recover. During that time, a person might be unable to work or have a difficult time carrying out everyday tasks. It’s important to have a doctor reset a broken bone to make sure it heals properly.
Crush injuries are another type of car accident injury that can occur. They are caused when the body gets trapped in the vehicle. Crush injuries can cause broken bones, organ rupture, and internal bleeding depending on what part of the body is trapped. Emergency personnel work to remove people trapped inside cars after accidents. People often die from being crushed in car accidents. Many DUI accidents result in crush injuries because they are more likely to happen at high speeds.
Burns are another common injury that people suffer in car accidents. The forces involved in a car accident could cause one or both of the vehicles to burst into flame. Fires after collisions can cause burns to victims, ranging from minor burns to life-threatening injuries. A person could also suffer damage from inhaling smoke.
In car accident injury cases, victims have to prove that their injuries were caused by the at-fault party’s negligence. This is a little easier to prove in DUI accident cases, where police officers at the scene test the driver’s blood alcohol content. By proving that the other driver’s actions caused the accident, injury victims are able to receive compensation. Some examples of compensation include for economic damages such as lost wages, medical expenses, and property damage, and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
At Salt Lake Injury Law, we have extensive experience in helping Utah residents get justice after they were injured in an accident. Our excellent track record and reviews from previous clients show our dedication to personal injury law. We will recover as much compensation as possible so that you can recover financially after being injured. Our reputable law firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means that we don’t get paid until you do. We also offer free case consultations for new clients, where we can discuss your options with you.
If you were injured by a drunk driver, don’t wait to reach out to Salt Lake Injury Law’s DUI accident injury lawyers as soon as possible. You shouldn’t have your whole life turned upside down because of someone else’s reckless actions. Salt Lake Injury Law helps victims get back to their lives after getting injured in an accident. We are here to help you; the sooner that we can get started on handling your case, the sooner you can recover damages.
