A car accident caused by a Kaiser surgeon who was driving the wrong way on a Napa area highway injured five people, the Vallejo Times-Herald reports. California Highway Patrol officials believe Dr. Michael Meehan was under the influence when he crashed his Toyota Tacoma into a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero on Highway 221 the morning of February 21, 2010. The driver and three passengers of the Oldsmobile sustained moderate to major injuries. Meehan was also injured, but was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

I hope the injuries sustained by the victims are not catastrophic or life-threatening. I sincerely hope they recover quickly and completely. These injured victims will be in my prayers.

Alcohol-Related Crashes

According to CHP's traffic accident statistics, there was one fatality and 36 injuries involving DUI collisions in Napa in 2008, Also, during the same year, alcohol-related collisions claimed nine lives and caused 96 injuries in Napa County as a whole.

Drunk Driving 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 section also states that it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher.

Liability Issues

Victims in DUI collisions would be well-advised to seek the legal counsel of an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will advise them about their legal rights and options and make sure that the negligent parties are held accountable. If the driver in such cases is on-the-job, then the employer can also be held liable for the accident and injuries caused. Victims may seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, hospitalization costs, rehabilitation and other related expenses.

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.