Authorities say that Danae Marie Miller, the 22-year-old Newport Coast woman charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated in the Newport Beach car crash that claimed the life of 44-year-old bicyclist Amine Britel last February, was text messaging when the collision happened. Miller, who has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charge, has an extensive record of traffic citations going back to 2005, including one for using a cell phone. Her pretrial hearing is scheduled for next month.
The Orange County district attorney's office says that on the day of the Newport Beach bicycle accident, Miller consumed alcohol at Zinc Café, where she worked. Almost two hours after the deadly collision, her BAC was .10%
Our Anaheim car accident lawyers reported on this tragic accident soon after it happened last February. Read that blog post for more details.
Texting while Driving
Texting while driving is a dangerous activity to engage in regardless of whether or not one is intoxicated. Some have even called texting more dangerous than drunk driving.
Texting prevents a driver from fully paying attention to the road and traffic. It also requires part of the brain function required for driving a motor vehicle. A person who is texting likely has at least one if not both hands off the steering wheel. Now imagine a driver who is texting and also impaired from having consumed too much alcohol and you'll get a sense of how dangerous that person can be on the road.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a car crash because someone else was texting and/or drunk, you may be able to sue for Orange County, California personal injury damages in civil court. Our Newport Beach injury lawyers know that while no amount of money can make up for your injuries or the loss off a loved one, it can allow you to hold the responsible party liable and help cover some of your resulting financial costs.
Woman Pleads Not Guilty in Crash That Killed Cyclist, Newport Beach Patch, April 15, 2011
Driver Charged in Deadly Newport Beach Bicycle Accident Had Received at Least 16 Traffic Ticket Citations Since 2005, California Injury Lawyer Blog, February 24, 2011
More Web Resources:
Texting Is More Dangerous Than Driving Drunk, The New York Times, June 25, 2009
Distracted Driving, U.S. Department of Transportation
More Blog Posts:
Preventing Orange County, California Distracted Driving Accidents: CHP Cracks Down on Cell Phone Use and Text Messaging In Santa Ana, San Juan Capistrano, and Westminster, California Injury Lawyer Blog, February 10, 2011
Orange County, California Car Accident Involving Dropped Cell Phone Leaves One Woman Dead and Three Men with Injuries, California Injury Lawyer Blog, February 16, 2009
