San Francisco Man Gets 50 Years For Drunk Driving Accident
Hit-and-run driver struck two pedestrians.
A 55-year-old San Francisco man was sentenced to 50 years in prison with no possibility of parole after injuring two pedestrians in a car accident.
According to trial records, Robert Russell was driving drunk when he struck a couple with his car in Santa Cruz in September 2009. Om Anand was thrown into the car's windshield and suffered two broken ribs, multiple abrasions and a serious head injury, which his wife claims has caused memory loss, anxiety and other ongoing issues. While Tripura Anand sustained no serious injuries herself, she says she too has been affected by the accident, which has hindered her husband's work as an artist.
Russell, who initially fled the scene of the accident, claims to have no memory of striking the Anands. Despite his claims, hes convicted of driving under the influence causing injury, hit-and-run with injury and failure to appear. Because of his prior criminal record, which includes convictions for burglary, child molestation, attempted murder and assault with intent to rape, Russell was sentenced to two 25-to-life terms under the Three Strikes Rule.
In addition to the prison term, Russell was also ordered to pay $72,000 in restitution to the Anands, $50,000 of which has already been paid by his insurance company.
While fortunately no one was killed in this car accident, the victims in this case will likely have to live with the repercussions of the drunk driver's actions for years to come. While they may take some comfort in the fact that he will not be able to harm another pedestrian, they will still have to deal with the emotional and physical trauma caused by his negligence.
In addition to the court-ordered restitution Mr. Russell was ordered to pay, the Anands may consider filing a personal injury lawsuit against him to seek compensation for their pain and suffering, lost wages and medical bills. Under California law, car accident victims have the right to seek damages against a negligent driver who causes injury or death.
If you or a loved one has been seriously hurt by a drunk or careless driver, you need to speak with a California car accident attorney to protect your rights. The law firm of Nadrich & Cohen LLP specializes in assisting car accident victims in the San Francisco area and throughout California in getting the compensation they're entitled to.
Call our Injury Hotline at 1-800-722-0765 to speak with a member of our car accident injury team. Your initial case evaluation is absolutely free and there is never a fee unless we recover a money judgment on your behalf. Don't let a car accident ruin your life. Call Nadrich & Cohen today to get the expert legal representation you need to prove your California car accident injury case.
