Will Barbers and Beauticians Serving Alcohol Increase The Number of DUI Accidents in California?
Unfortunately, no one will know the answer to this question until a new law goes into effect next year that allows barber shops and beauty salons to serve alcohol to clients.
AB1322, also known as the “Drybar Bill,” was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown on September 28. The law does not go into effect until January 1, 2017. After the New Year, hair salons throughout California will be permitted to offer their customers beer and wine. The new law adds another 42,000 establishments that can offer alcoholic beverages to customers. Other than the fact that the new law adds more establishments to the list of places where someone can drink alcohol and then drive a vehicle, the law does not require a permit or special license by the hair salon.
In other words, you have an establishment serving alcohol without first obtaining a permit or license for serving wine or beer. The new law does limit the complimentary glass offered to customers to 12 ounces of beer or six ounces of wine. It further restricts the complimentary offering to business hours before 10 p.m.
DUI Accidents in California
According to reports from the California Department of Motor Vehicles and the Centers for Disease Control, over 10,300 people lost their lives in California traffic crashes involving drunk drivers between 2003 and 2012. During 2013, California records 1,197 alcohol-involved crash fatalities and 23,178 alcohol-involved crash injuries. Drunk driving is a problem in California and throughout the United States. Only time will tell how the new laws regarding alcohol in hair salons will play out.
However, for the victims of DUI accidents, the reality of drunk driving is all too real. DUI accidents result in horrific injuries. Your life can be turned upside down and forever changed in a matter of seconds due to another person’s poor choice to drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs. If you are injured by a drunk driver, you have rights under California’s personal injury laws. Unfortunately, the justice system cannot undo the damage done by a drunk driver, but it can provide a system where accident victims can recover compensation for their injuries.
Your injuries are unique to your accident; however, most accident victims are able to recover compensation for damages including, but not limited to:
- Medical costs, including future medical costs
- Loss of income, including future loss of income
- Property damage
- Travel expenses and other out-of-pocket expenses
- Mental anguish and emotional suffering
- Physical pain
The amount of compensation you may be entitled to receive depends on several factors, including the type of injury, severity of injury, length of recovery, financial losses, and how severely your daily life was impacted due to the injury. Hiring an experienced Fresno car accident attorney is your first step in recovering a fair settlement.
Contact a Fresno DUI Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a DUI accident, contact the Torem & Associates at (888) 500-5000 or use our convenient online contact form to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury attorney. Our law firm represents injury victims in Fresno and throughout the surrounding Central California Valley area. Let us help you hold the person who caused your injuries responsible for his or her actions.
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