A drunk driver who allegedly drove the wrong way and smashed his car into another vehicle in a car accident on Highway 280 on Thursday has been arrested, Mercury News is reporting.

The unidentified 35-year-old driver was apparently driving a Toyota under the influence, and ended up in the wrong lane. The first the police heard of the incident was when they received information that a car was traveling the wrong way on the freeway. By the time officers arrived at the spot, they found the Toyota had slammed into another car, an Acura Integra. A passenger in the Acura, a 56-year-old man was declared dead at the scene of the car accident. The driver of the Acura was taken to the hospital with injuries sustained in the crash. Police have arrested the Toyota driver for felony DUI, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and felony wrong-way driving.

Considering that the driver was under the influence, it’s not even surprising that he ended up in the wrong lane, posing a threat to other motorists going the opposite way. It’s extremely fortunate that there were no more injuries or fatalities in this particular car accident, because there was definitely a possibility for multiple crashes and pile-ups.

Drunken Driving Accident Lawsuits

When a motorist has caused an accident under the influence of alcohol, and injuries occur because of that accident, the driver can not only have criminal charges filed against him, but can also be named in a civil action lawsuit that seeks compensation for the medical bills, loss of wages, pain and suffering that the victims suffered. The state of California has a number of ways that compensation could be obtained for your injuries depending on your circumstances. For instance, a bar, restaurant, or other establishment that served alcohol to the inebriated motorist can be named in the lawsuit if it can be proved that the staff continued to serve him alcohol even when he was noticeably drunk. Similarly, vendors who sell alcoholic beverages at public places can be held liable on the same grounds.

If the accident results in a death, then the family of the victim can file a wrongful death claim. In such cases, the family can claim damages including loss of spousal relations, loss of an earning family member, funeral expenses etc.

Proving a drunk driving accident claim can be harder than it seems. You’ll need the expertise of a drunk driving accident lawyer who can prove that your injuries occurred because of the driver’s intoxication. If there are other third parties you can name in your lawsuit, then you will be required to prove that these parties were aware of the driver’s intoxicated state, but served him alcohol anyway. All this requires the experienced counsel of a California car accident lawyer who handles drunk driving accident claims.