Santa Clarita Mother of 6 Remembered After Death Due to DUI Car Accident – Rights of Grieving Families Under California Personal Injury Laws Explained
There is no doubt that most fatal DUI car accidents leave behind a trail of tears, broken hearts, a shattered family and, often, a devastated community. One such tragic DUI case that is being remembered years later is that of a 37-year-old mother and Santa Clarita resident who was killed in October 2017, due to the actions of a drunk and intoxicated driver. According to local news reports, Katie Evans, the mother and victim of the tragic October 6, 2017 DUI accident was coming back home from visiting her twin baby daughters in the hospital, when she was hit and killed by a 21-year-old drunk driver. The fatal DUI-involved car accident occurred just one mile from Evans’ home. Evans was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The driver, who was found with open alcohol containers in her car, was reported as having a blood alcohol level over three times the legal limit when the accident occurred. She was sentenced in 2018 to 10 years in California state prison after she pleaded “no contest” to the DUI charges she was facing.
Evans’ husband, Jacob, shared with news outlets in October 2024, remembering his wife’s death, “I want to share my story because I want people to understand just how devastating it is when something like this happens…It completely ruined my life to that point, and there have been some good things that have happened since, but I don’t want anyone to have to go through the sort of suffering and pain that my family has gone through.” He also added, “Alcohol is everybody’s business. Don’t let your friends drink and drive. Don’t let somebody leave a party drunk, because you never know. It might be someone you know that’s life is impacted forever…Have a plan. Don’t drink and drive.”
DUI Drivers May be Liable in Civil Court – Learn About DUI Victims’ Rights Under California Personal Injury Laws
In light of the story of the terrible DUI car accident that claimed the life of a young mother far too-soon, it is important for Santa Clarita families to know that they may have rights and options to justice for the death of their loved one under California civil personal injury laws. Even if a drunk or otherwise intoxicated driver is convicted in criminal court under California criminal laws, they may also be liable under California personal injury laws. Under California civil personal injury wrongful death laws, certain close family members of victims of fatal DUI car accidents are entitled to file a lawsuit for money compensation for the loss of their loved one. There is a limited time to file a personal injury wrongful death lawsuit in Santa Clarita, so it is best to speak with an experienced Santa Clarita personal injury lawyer as soon as possible about your case.
The experienced Santa Clarita personal injury lawyers at the Trevino Law Firm are here to help Santa Clarita families get justice against drunk and intoxicated drivers. Contact the Trevino Law Firm today and speak to a lawyer about your case now.
Source:
hometownstation.com/santa-clarita-news/community-news/remembering-katie-evans-seven-years-after-fatal-dui-crash-523381
