Fatal DUI Car Crash Lands Ventura Driver in Jail, But What About the Victims? Find Out How DUI Car Accident Victims Get Justice in Ventura

A tragic collision in Ventura County recently brought this critical question to light: when a Ventura driver drives drunk and kills others, that DUI driver may go to jail, but how do the victims or their families obtain justice and compensation? This is a question some Ventura drivers and their families may ask after a fatal 2024 DUI car accident in which a drunk driver was finally convicted this past April hit headlines. According to the Ventura County Star, in the terrible and fatal case, an intoxicated wrong-way driver on the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 101 near Seaward Avenue collided head-on with another vehicle, resulting in two fatalities. While the driver now faces criminal consequences, the victims’ families (and other Ventura families) may still be left with unanswered questions about recovering losses, pain, and the future.

Compensation for Surviving Victims of DUI Car Crashes in Ventura

It is time to get down to the basics: what happens when a person survives a DUI car accident, but they are seriously injured? When a driver or person is injured (but not killed) in a crash caused by a drunk driver, California personal injury laws allow them to bring a civil claim for damages. While the criminal prosecution focuses on punishment under California criminal laws, the civil case addresses individual loss: medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, rehabilitation, and reduced quality of life. Under California’s personal injury laws, the intoxicated driver may be held financially responsible for negligent or intentional conduct that caused injury. For example, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs causing bodily injury is a crime under California Vehicle Code § 23153. But separate from the criminal code, victims of DUI car accidents in Ventura can seek compensation through a personal injury action.

Compensation for Surviving Family Members Under California Wrongful Death Laws

In the event of a fatal crash, on the other hand, certain members of the victim’s family have a different path to justice: a wrongful death action. California wrongful death laws allow certain surviving family members (such as a spouse, domestic partner, children, or parents of the deceased) to bring a claim for losses resulting from the death of their loved one. Compensation in these cases may include funeral and burial expenses, loss of support and services the deceased would have provided, and general damages. There is only a limited time to file a claim under California wrongful death laws, so it is always best to speak to an experienced Ventura car accident lawyer about your rights and options as soon as possible after a serious or fatal car accident happens in Ventura.

Finding a Lawyer in Ventura to Help You Get Justice

If you were injured or lost a loved one in a DUI car accident in Ventura, it is time to speak with an experienced Ventura car accident lawyer. The experienced Ventura car accident lawyers at Zavala Law, PC are here to help victims of serious car accidents and their loved ones get justice against the DUI drivers that injured them. Contact Zavala Law, PC today and speak with a lawyer about your case now.

Source:

eu.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2025/04/17/driver-in-wrong-way-dui-crash-ventura-that-killed-2-sentenced-to-prison/83141118007/