California Enacts Tougher DUI Laws: What Victims Need to Know

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a four-bill package aimed at cracking down on repeat DUI offenders, introducing stricter penalties and new felony charges. The centerpiece, SB 907 or "Braun's Law," makes leaving the scene of an injury crash a felony and adds enhanced penalties for drivers with a prior DUI, reckless driving, or gross vehicular manslaughter conviction within 10 years. Companion bill AB 1546 allows prosecutors to charge a third DUI within a decade as a felony, a step that previously required a fourth offense. The legislation, highlighted by the Governor's Office and CalMatters, aims to hold repeat offenders accountable and deter dangerous driving.

However, California personal injury firm Barry P. Goldberg, A Professional Law Corporation emphasizes that criminal penalties do not compensate victims. The firm notes that injured parties must pursue civil claims for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. A car accident lawyer in Santa Clarita, CA can navigate the overlap between criminal and civil cases. Under Civil Code § 3294, punitive damages may be available against intoxicated drivers. For hit-and-run crash victims, uninsured motorist coverage can provide a recovery path, but Insurance Code § 11580.2 imposes strict requirements: physical contact, a police report within 24 hours, and a sworn statement to the insurer within 30 days. Additionally, most injury claims must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, regardless of the criminal case timeline.

"A felony charge shows the state takes this seriously. It doesn't pay a single medical bill," said Barry P. Goldberg, the firm's founder and a recognized authority on uninsured and underinsured motorist law in California. "When a hit-and-run driver is never found, your own UM coverage is often the only path to recovery, and insurers enforce every deadline." With offices in Woodland Hills, Valencia, Simi Valley, and El Cajon, the firm represents injured people across California. Injured drivers can contact the firm to speak with a Santa Clarita accident lawyer.