California Man to Face Trial for Drunk Driving Accident
An El Cajon, California man will stand trial in a drunk driving accident case that occurred in July of this year. 35-year-old Shannon Shimp is charged with two counts each of murder, as well as gross vehicular manslaughter in the deaths of Ian Kinney and Joseph Warren Edwards.
The accident took place on Highway 78 on July 22nd. 19-year-old Tessa Medearis was in a Lexus with her boyfriend, 19-year-old Ian Kinney. A pickup driven by Shimp attempting to pass three vehicles skidded out of control, and into the westbound lanes. It crashed into the Lexus, which was also westbound, ending up on top of the car. Ian was killed instantly. Also killed was Shimp’s passenger, 58-year-old Joseph Warren Edwards. Both men died at the scene. Ian left behind his parents, while Edwards is survived by his wife.
Tessa suffered moderate injuries, and had to be extricated from the wreckage. After the accident, Shimp, who had suffered injuries in the car accident, was taken to the hospital for treatment of his injuries, and then arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was found to have been driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.19 when tests were conducted two hours after the car accident.
On Wednesday, Tessa appeared in court to testify about the car accident that killed her boyfriend. The Superior Court Judge ruled that there were grounds for a trial. There will be a hearing on December 3rd to decide on a date for the trial.
For the two families that lost the most in this tragedy, it seems like justice gets nearer every day. They have had to face the pain of losing their loved ones though no fault of their own.
California has a multi-pronged approach to dealing with the DUI menace. Not only does it have some of the most severe drunk driving laws in the country, but it has also had a significant amount of success in bringing down accident rates in the state, through better awareness programs for motorists, stronger checks and monitoring of drivers, as well as graduated licensing programs for teens that encourage them to be fully educated before they are allowed to drive on their own. The stringency of these laws has led to criticism from groups who believe that license suspensions and the focus on passing breath tests, are unfair. When we continue to have drivers like Shimp who think nothing of tanking up with alcohol that’s more than twice over the legal limit, it’s clear that these criticisms are baseless.
Southern California is Full of Drunk Drivers
DUI lawyers in Southern California have dramatically increased in number over the last 5 years, reaching a record level. The increased volume of DUI lawyers shows an alarming trend even more in Southern California-the increase in the number of DUI arrests in the region.
Why an increase in DUI arrests in Southern California?
The increase in DUI arrests in Southern California have to do with a significant allocation of federal highway funds that actively supports DUI patrols, checkpoints, and overall increased DUI enforcement specifically focusing on the main roads such as Southern California;
* Interstate 5 Golden State Freeway / Santa Ana Freeway / San Diego Freeway
* Interstate 15 Mojave Freeway / Barstow Freeway / Ontario Freeway
* Interstate 110
* Interstate 405
* I-710
* I-105
Southern California DUI attorneys to defend their clients against two basic charges in the Southern California DUI cases;
* 23152 (a), which says it’s a misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol and / or drugs.
* 23152 (b), which says it is a misdemeanor to operate a motor vehicle with a .08 percent or higher concentration of alcohol in the blood.
All offenders arrested and charged with DUI in Southern California is responsible for both of these offenses, even if only 1 particular, the incident occurred. This is what a Southern California DUI lawyer argues against.
A good lawyer challenges every aspect of your incident, and work with the Attorney’s office to try to develop a reduction or dismissal, all together, if the evidence against you isn’t enough.
It’s increasingly difficult to win DUI cases in the region due to tougher laws and less lenient judges presiding over the case.
Some interesting facts drunk driving that are not important, but discussions with those who may be potentially faced with an identity card or drunk driving related
Drunken driving and DUI laws vary from state to state and the potential penalties. Drunken driving is considered criminal offenses in every state across the country. Repeat DUI offenses are considered by other states you should recur in another state. Almost every state in the United States DUI share information with other states when you attempt to transfer licenses. Your employer is more likely to find information on your identity card or drunken driving offense.
Your auto insurance is certainly affected by an offense of drunk driving are required to wear what is known as an SR22 insurance policy. The SR22 is a “high risk” type of automobile insurance policy that the state requires DMV with the aim of forcing the auto insurance company to notify them (DMV) should automobile insurance company would cease to offer coverage you for any reason. This policy bears the name of the form that the DMV requires; form SR22. Even after a 1st offense DUI you will be asked to complete a program for alcohol abuse, regardless of your blood alcohol concentration (BAC), or the circumstances of your arrest or conviction. Overall DUI and /or drunken driving related offenses are serious crimes and you must seek the help and assistance of a lawyer of the criminal defense to protect your rights and interests. The lawyer you choose should focus their practice of law exclusively on DUI defense if you want the best possible representation.
Drunk Driving Accidents in California
A 29-year-old woman was killed in a suspected drunk driving accident in Crescent City, California over the weekend. On Sunday night, 38-year-old Michael Jones, and the victim Jolynda R. Peters, were in Jonesâ Honda Prelude, with Jones in the driverâs seat. The car collided with a Ford Ranger which was attempting to make a right turn into a driveway. Jones had apparently been speeding at the time of the car accident. The force of the impact pushed the Ford off the road, and into a ditch. Both Jones as well as the driver of the Ford, 59-year-old Ivan Beckendorf, were injured in the car accident. Peters suffered major injuries, and was later declared dead at the scene of the accident.
Both the injured men were taken to the hospital for treatment of their injuries, and were later transported to a Redding hospital. Tests revealed that Jones was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the car accident. According to Times-Standard, he was arrested for vehicular manslaughter, and for driving under the influence of alcohol. The California Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the case.
Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration place the number of dead each year nationwide in drunk driving accidents at 17,500. Apart from the people who are killed, there are thousands of others who are injured. This in turn, leads to high expenses for medical treatment, inability to work, and other effects that have an impact on our society.
California has some of the strongest drunk driving laws in the country, and they have been used with great effect by the CHP and drunk driving accident lawyers to bring down the statewide number of drunken driving accident fatalities. According to the laws we have here, itâs not just the person whoâs behind the wheel in a drunken state who can be held responsible for injuries sustained as a result of the car accident, but possibly also the establishment that was responsible for serving him the alcohol.
In addition to bringing continual awareness to the issue of drunk driving, MADD also serves the important function of acting as a support system for families of those who have been injured or killed by drunk drivers on American roads. Demas & Rosenthal fully supports MADD in these efforts.
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a misdemeanor in California unless it causes bodily injury, in which case it can be charged as a felony. Even though persons convicted under the current DUI laws face substantial fines and penalties, and significant resources are dedicated to enforcement, there are far too many incidents of drunk driving causing injury or death across the country.
In addition to criminal penalties, drunk drivers can be held civilly liable in California. These Sacramento personal injury lawyers have teamed with MADD so that drunk drivers can be held accountable in this manner as well.