Drunk Driving Accident Victims Lawyer in California

Have You Been Injured by a Drunk Driver?

Johnson Attorneys Group feels for the victims who are hurt in collisions and we wish a speedy recovery to all those who have been injured in California from DUI or DWI incidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drunk drivers cause nearly one-third of all traffic incidents in the United States that result in the death of a victim. Driving while drunk is referred to as “Driving under the influence” (DUI) or “Driving while intoxicated” (DWI). The National Department of Transportation has observed that most of the intoxicated drivers are usually repeat offenders who have previously been cited for DUI. The habit of driving while intoxicated affects not only the impaired driver but also other innocent motorists as well.

It is the duty of a DUI accident lawyer to ensure that the innocent victims who suffer from the actions of DUI offenders are fairly compensated. Insurance companies are supposed to adequately compensate you for any financial losses and physical harm that you may have suffered because of a driver’s reckless behavior. Our California personal injury attorneys work at your service to ensure that the insurance companies stick to their obligation and adequately compensate you for any losses you might have suffered.

The personal injury lawyers at Johnson Attorneys Group take the time to inform each of our clients about the legal process involved as well as ensuring that they are fully compensated. Our sensitivity to the needs innocent victims of DUI incidents leads us to take an active role in the treatment of injured victims. We ensure that the victims get adequate care from the best doctors and experts to help them recover from the injury. We also make sure that any bills accrued as a result of the DUI or DWI incident get settled.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in California due to a negligent drunk driver behind the wheel, contact Johnson Attorneys Group for a free case evaluation. We don’t charge you any fees unless we win or settle your case, and we have recovered over $100 million for accident victims.

California DUI Statistics

Total California Fatalities: In 2023, 1,355 people lost their lives in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in California.(Source: California Office of Traffic Safety / SafeTREC Traffic Safety Facts, 2025)

Share of Fatal Crashes: Alcohol-impaired drivers accounted for 33% of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities statewide in 2023. (Source: SafeTREC / FARS, 2025)

Primary Cause of Severe Crashes: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs was the primary crash factor in 76% of all fatal and serious injury crashes involving alcohol across California in 2023. (Source: California Provisional SWITRS, 2023)

Peak Danger Times: Approximately 47.6% of alcohol-impaired fatal crashes occurred between 9:00 PM and 3:00 AM, while 43.4% occurred on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) in 2023. (Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2023)

California Law in Matters Concerning DUI with Injury

Any person who causes an accident in California due to intoxication of alcohol or drugs is regarded as negligent. Although criminal law dictates punishments for the careless drivers to protect from future incidences, it usually offers very little comfort to the victims of these acts who endure serious pain and injury or those who are robbed of a loved one. Even when the victims are owed compensation, it’s  never a match for the loss of a loved one. The pain and emotional cost endured by the victims almost always surpasses the compensatory package. Drivers who cause accidents while under the influence of alcohol are liable to pay for any damage they cause. However, liability can also be extended to other parties as well, who might be considered negligent.

Suing a host of a party for DUI

What is required to file a Negligent entrustment claim?

How Assembly Bill 1087 (AB 1087) Increases Accountability for Drunk Drivers

The Technical Details of AB 1087

Enacted as Chapter 180 of the Statutes of 2025, Assembly Bill 1087 (AB 1087) amends California Penal Code Section 191.5, which governs gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Under prior statutory probation caps defined in Penal Code Sections 1203.1 and 1203a, court-ordered probation for these offenses was limited to a maximum of one year for misdemeanors and two years for felonies. AB 1087 added subdivision (e) to Penal Code Section 191.5, requiring courts that grant probation for an intoxicated vehicular manslaughter conviction to set the probation period between three and five years. This change aligns the probationary term for fatal crashes with the existing statutory probation range set for standard DUI offenses under the California Vehicle Code.

What the Law Means in Everyday Terms

California law previously contained an oversight: a standard DUI conviction carried a mandatory probation term of three to five years, yet a driver who caused a fatal crash while under the influence could be granted a probation period capped at just one or two years. AB 1087 corrects this discrepancy. If a court grants probation to a drunk driver convicted of causing a fatal crash, the court must keep that driver under formal probation and court supervision for three to five years.

What AB 1087 Means for Drunk Driving Accident Victims and Families

• Prolonged Offender Accountability: Extending probation to three to five years ensures that the state maintains legal authority over the driver for a substantial period, enforcing conditions such as alcohol testing, mandatory treatment programs, and driving restrictions.
• Longer Judicial Supervision: Families who lose loved ones to intoxicated drivers are assured that the criminal justice system will actively monitor the driver for up to half a decade rather than terminating supervision after 12 to 24 months.
• Strengthened Civil Injury & Wrongful Death Claims: Criminal convictions under Penal Code Section 191.5 provide official proof of wrongdoing that civil courts rely on to establish negligence per se. The driver’s criminal record, court findings, and continuous probation terms provide key legal evidence when pursuing financial recovery for lost income, medical bills, funeral costs, emotional distress, and civil punitive damages.

How Much is My Case Worth?

Victims of drunk driving accidents can file a lawsuit to help them recover any incurred civil damages. Losses that result from these collisions vary greatly, and a person can be compensated for the following expenses:

1. Treatment and medical expenses.
2. Loss of consortium.
3. Physical and emotional pain and suffering.
4. Lost earnings.
5. Funeral expenditures.
6. Loss of monetary support.
7. Physical and emotional therapy.
8. Destruction of property.
9. Punitive damages: To punish negligent DUI drivers, The California Supreme Court ruled that the DUI offender can incur punitive charges as a disciplinary measure. This is because drunk drivers consciously get behind the wheel on their own volition and deliberately endanger the lives, health, and property of others. The California law provides for victims of DUI incidents to be awarded restitution payments for the losses incurred.

An injury lawsuit is a form of civil case that is filed by the victim of a DUI incident or their loved ones, in the event of a fatality. The purpose of doing this is to seek compensation for the damages incurred.  A civil case could be your only option when you are attempting to seek compensation for the incurred medical bills, physical and emotional pain, and property damage among other claims.

We are Ready to Help – Contact Our Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers for a FREE Injury Case Review in California

If the traffic accident took place in California, contact us for a free drunk driving accident case review by one of our qualified attorneys who will review your injury case for free.

If you are a victim of a DUI accident, you are entitled to compensation for your losses and injuries. At Johnson Attorneys Group, we will offer you a free consultation and answer any queries you might have. We strive to give our clients with the best legal service while maintaining unmatched client service and personal attention at our offices.