Two 19-year-old women -- Vickie Chen and Elaine Shin Ly of Los Angeles -- suffered major injuries in a San Bernardino car accident when they were hit by a suspected drunk driver while standing next to their car. The San Bernardino Sun reports the accident occurred in Loma Linda, California in the early hours of October 10, 2009, as Chen and Ly had stopped their Toyota Camry by the 10 Freeway near Richardson Street to fix a flat tire.

Daniel Miersma, 23, of Redlands, was speeding on the westbound 10 when he veered off the freeway and crashed into the rear of the parked Toyota, California Highway Patrol officials said. The force of the collision broke Chen's left leg and caused head trauma. Ly sustained a compound right leg fracture and multiple contusions due to this horrific car accident. Police booked Miersma on suspicion of felony driving under the influence leading to injury. Please call CHP at 909-383-4247 if you witnessed this collision or have more information about it.

My thoughts and prayers go out to these young women and their families. I sincerely hope their injuries are not life-threatening. I wish them both the best for a fast and complete recovery. Please keep Vickie Chen and Elaine Shin Ly, the two accident victims, in your prayers.

California DUI Laws

California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) states: "It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle." The same code section also states that it is illegal for any person with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or more to drive a vehicle.

If this news report is accurate, Miersma broke the law by driving under the influence. If he is found to be at fault for causing this pedestrian-car accident, then he should be held both, criminally and civilly responsible for it. Both these women have been seriously injured here and deserve to be compensated for their suffering that was caused by negligence and a gross disregard for public safety.

Consulting a Personal Injury Lawyer

In such situations, a California personal injury lawyer will be of invaluable assistance to accident victims and their families. Both Ly and Chen, and their families, should consult with a reputed car accident lawyer who has a wealth of experience going after drunk drivers and holding them responsible. A knowledgeable attorney will help them understand the legal rights and options that are available to them. A skilled personal injury lawyer will also be able to determine how their car insurance policy would help compensate them in the event Miersma is uninsured or lacks adequate insurance.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.