A DUI collision in Reseda claimed the life of 51-year-old Chandrika De Silva and seriously injured her 5-year-old grandson, Sahan. The Los Angeles Daily News reports that the fatal crash occurred the morning of July 18, 2010 when 22-year-old Richard Albert Buitron struck Chandrika and the family's Toyota Prius parked partially in their home's driveway. Chandrika died at the scene while Sahan was taken to a hospital for treatment of a concussion and other injuries. Sahan was ejected from the vehicle although he was strapped in a booster seat.

My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved De Silva. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. I also wish the little boy, Sahan, the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. I hope he has not sustained any serious injuries.

Car Accident Statistics

There were 268 fatalities and 25,588 injuries involving Los Angeles car accidents, according to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Los Angeles County as a whole, 667 deaths and 52,229 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents during the same year.

DUI Laws

It is illegal under California law to drive under the influence of alcohol. A driver whose act of driving under the influence results in the death of another will likely face gross vehicular manslaughter charges. California Penal Code section 191.5 (a) states: "Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought, in the driving of a vehicle, where the driving was in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153 of the Vehicle Code, and the killing was either the proximate result of the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, and with gross negligence, or the proximate result of the commission of a lawful act that might produce death, in an unlawful manner, and with gross negligence."

Claim for Compensation

An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims in such cases about their legal rights and options. A knowledgeable injury lawyer will also advise victims and their families about how their own car insurance policy might apply to an incident where the at-fault motorist is uninsured or underinsured.

Do you know someone who has been injured or someone who has lost a loved one in a DUI collision? For more information about the dangers of drunk driving, please visit MADD's web site at www.madd.org.

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.