A 46-year-old man who was traveling on a California highway in the wee hours of a recent Friday morning had no way of knowing that he would wind up in the hospital after suffering serious injuries in a crash. A collision occurred at approximately 4 a.m. when another vehicle hit the man’s car head–on. Police are still investigating what caused the other driver to be headed in the wrong direction.
Police suspect alcohol was a factor
The vehicle that was struck burst into flames upon impact. Witnesses nearby came rushing to the rescue to extricate the driver from the burning vehicle. Police say that they questioned the driver of the other vehicle after he reportedly struck the man’s car head-on, causing serious injuries to the driver.
The 28-year-old man apparently told police that he thought he was on a different road when the collision occurred. He was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Reportedly, the man was later booked on felony charges.
Navigating the aftermath of a collision that resulted in injury
It can take weeks, even months, to fully recover from injuries suffered in a California motor vehicle collision. When another person’s reckless driving behavior was a causal factor of a crash, the person or people who have suffered damages may seek restitution by filing a personal injury claim in a civil court. The fact that criminal charges may have been filed in a particular case may be helpful to substantiate a plaintiff’s civil claim, especially when a driver is charged and later convicted of a DUI.