A 22-year-old man died in California on Nov. 9 in what authorities believe was a single-vehicle drunk driving car accident. The fatal car crash took place in the Pauma Valley along state Route 76 near Adams Drive. People who called the California Highway Patrol to report the accident said that they saw a second vehicle, but authorities later determined that a 2015 Toyota Corolla was the only car involved in the accident.

According to the CHP, the Toyota was traveling around a curve when it drifted off the side of the highway just after 12:30 a.m. The victim, who was a passenger, was ejected from the vehicle. After going off the side of the highway, the Toyota hit a bridge that was located over a drain and then overturned.

The victim was declared dead at the scene while the driver and a second passenger were treated for moderate injuries at Palomar Medical Center. The driver was taken into custody and charged for felony DUI. Authorities shut down both lanes of the highway near the accident scene until just before 3 a.m.

The surviving family members of a person who has died in a car crash caused by a drunk driver will often have to deal with sudden adverse financial changes in addition to their grief. In many cases, the decedent contributed to the household income, and the surviving family members will also have to bear the resulting funeral and burial costs. Those who are in this position may want to speak with a personal injury attorney in order to determine whether filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent motorist would be advisable.

Source: Fox 5, "Passenger dies in suspected DUI crash on SR-76," Nov. 9, 2015