Ramon Vargas of Sacramento was arrested and taken to the Sacramento County Jail on felony DUI charges after his vehicle collided with a taxi on Interstate 80 on Saturday morning .  Mr. Vargas’ Isuzu Rodeo was merging onto I-80 from northbound I-5 when he steered his Isuzu Rodeo directly into a Ford Crown Victoria taxicab being driven by Germaine Rizak, 31.

Sacramento DUI Accident

The Isuzu overturned and came to the rest on its roof as a result of the collision.   Fortunately, the passengers of the taxi as well as a passenger in the Isuzu were not seriously injured.

However, another injury accident occurred after Daniel Zipay and his brother stopped to assist the victims of this Sacramento car accident.  As Mr. Zipay was placing reflective triangles at the scene, he was struck by another passing vehicle.  Mr. Zipay was taken to UC Davis Medical Center with a broken pelvis and broken right leg.  The hit and run driver has not been identified.

As a result of the above collisions, Mr. Vargas was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and causing a crash that resulted in serious injury.  He was also cited for making an unsafe lane change.

Alcohol Related Car Accidents

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a crime that can result in felony charges when crash victims sustain serious personal injuries.  Unfortunately, no matter how strong the laws against drunk driving, and no matter how strong public opinion seems to be against this type of conduct, some people simply cannot help themselves. The results are tragic. The California Highway Patrol Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System indicates that in 2008, there were 1,355 fatal collisions involving drunk drivers.

California Hit and Run Accidents

California law requires that a driver that has been involved in a collision to stop and provide his or her license and insurance information, regardless of the level of seriousness or extent of injury. Failing to do so can result in criminal charges including a felony hit & run charge when a victim sustains serious bodily injury. CHP statistics indicate that 22,091 safe drivers were injured in 2008 by irresponsible drivers who caused hit and run collisions.

Hiring a Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney

Victims of DUI and hit and run accidents should to consult a reputable Sacramento personal injury attorney, who will conduct a thorough investigation of the collision and hold the offending driver accountable for their actions.  A qualified California personal injury attorney can advise you regarding a claim for civil damages, including recovery of medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering.  Victims should know their rights under the law and any applicable insurance policies.  Family members of a deceased victim may have a wrongful death claim, which includes funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages.

The Demas & Rosenthal personal injury law firm is not currently representing anyone mentioned in this article at the time it was posted. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your legal rights and options, call us or another well recognized and respected personal injury law firm. Please do not rely or act solely upon the information provided in this article. Please consider getting a consultation immediately. The best personal injury law firms will provide a free consultation. Demas & Rosenthal will provide a free, confidential consultation to the persons who were not at fault named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.