Teen Girl Killed in San Jose DUI Accident

Most of us had a wild time or two when we were young, and the majority of us escaped from the potential consequences of bad decisions unharmed.  Tragically, not everyone emerges from these situations unscathed, as was the case with a 16-year-old girl who was killed in a suspected San Jose DUI accident that occurred over the weekend.  Police are still attempting to piece together all of the evidence in this matter.

According to authorities, the latest fatal San Jose car accident occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning, just after midnight.  16-year-old Jordan Michelle West was a passenger in a vehicle that was being driven by an unidentified 17-year-old girl.  There were three other passengers in the vehicle, and the group had attended a party that night.  The Toyota SUV in which they were riding was headed north on Highway 101 just south of Blossom Hill Road when it attempted to merge and collided with another vehicle.  The SUV then spun off the road, down an embankment and crashed into a tree.  Alcohol was found in the vehicle and the driver admitted to a witness that she had been drinking.

California Car Accident Statistics

First and foremost, we'd like to offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the girl who was killed.  Losing a life at 16 years old and as a result of what was a terrible mistake is truly tragic.  In addition, this fatal San Jose DUI accident will now become part of the overall statistics regarding California car accidents.  Every year, more than 3,000 people are killed in these occurrences, and more than one-third of all fatal California crashes list alcohol as a factor.

California Wrongful Death Lawyers

While the driver will face serious criminal charges, that would not prevent the family of the girl who was killed from filing a California wrongful death lawsuit in response to this incident.  If such a lawsuit was filed and was successful, the family could be awarded damages that compensate them for their losses that relate to medical, funeral and burial expenses as well as for less tangible forms of loss.

If you have lost someone you love as a result of a drunk driver, seek the help of California DUI accident lawyers who have been fighting for the rights of suffering families for many years.  Contact the Scarlett Law Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.