Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Maximum Penalty Slapped on DUI Convict

Finally, justice had been served to the family and friends of Emily Cathleen Dowdy who died from a hit and run accident.

A San Diego court sentenced Alan Lester Mabrey to 20 years to life in prison for Dowdy’s death. The conviction was brought about after finding that Mabrey killed Dowdy while drunk driving. At the time of the accident, Mabrey’s blood-alcohol content registered at 0.22 percent.

The evidence revealed that Mabrey had previous DUI convictions in Texas and Colorado.

For repeated DUI offenders, the maximum penalty provided by law must be imposed. The gravity of the offense and the fact that the offender seemed not to have learned his lessons must be taken into consideration.

Hit and run cases in California are the highest with 7.8 percent. According to the report conducted by the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety, 18 percent of hit and run victims were pedestrians.

For the loss of innocent lives, personal injury laws give the victims’ loved ones the right to sue for compensation. With the help of a hit and run attorney, recovery for damages may be done without delay.