Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Torrance
A drunk driving accident lawyer in Torrance builds your injury claim apart from the criminal case, pursues the impaired driver and any other responsible party, and seeks punitive damages where the facts allow. Moe Abdallah Law, P.C. offers a free review 24/7 and charges no fee unless we win.
If a drunk driver hurt you or a family member in Torrance, you have two cases in front of you. The state prosecutes the driver for the crime. You can separately sue that driver for your medical bills, lost income, and pain, and the civil case does not depend on the criminal outcome. Moe Abdallah Law, P.C. handles drunk driving accident claims for people hurt in Torrance and the South Bay. Attorney Moe Abdallah answers the phone himself at any hour, explains your options in plain words, and keeps you updated by call and text. The first conversation is free and you pay no fee unless he wins. Below, you will find what the Torrance numbers show, the police reports that matter, how your civil claim works, punitive damages, the limits on suing a bar, and where to get treated.
What Torrance's own DUI numbers show
California's Office of Traffic Safety publishes a ranking for each city, and Torrance sits in Group B, which has 62 cities of similar size. In 2023, Torrance had 50 alcohol-involved crash victims, ranked 43rd of 62 where a lower number means worse. The same report lists 123 DUI arrests, ranked 12th of 62. Those figures describe the city as a whole and do not name a single worst road. Impaired drivers share Hawthorne Boulevard, Crenshaw Boulevard, Torrance Boulevard, Sepulveda Boulevard, Western Avenue, Artesia Boulevard, and Del Amo Boulevard with everyone else, and Interstate 405, Interstate 110, and State Route 91 run through or alongside the city. We also will not call any Torrance street a hotspot, because no ranked source ties alcohol crashes to one. One news report shows how bad a single night can get. On a Saturday night in April 2025, a pedestrian near Pacific Coast Highway and Ocean Avenue was struck and killed in a hit-and-run involving several vehicles, and one person was arrested for DUI, according to ABC7. An arrest is not a conviction, and we mention it only as a local example. Police often confirm impairment only after the fact. The time of the crash, where the driver was last seen drinking, and what the officers noted all matter.
Reports, evidence, and what to gather after a Torrance DUI crash
The Torrance Police Department, 3300 Civic Center Dr., writes the collision report for crashes on Torrance city streets. A crash on the 405 or the 110 may be handled by the California Highway Patrol instead. Order it online through LexisNexis eCrash after about 15 days, or by mail or in person from the Records Division at (310) 618-5529 with a release form, photo ID, and an $18.00 check or money order. The collision report may not include the blood or breath test, the arrest report, or body camera video, and those can come from separate requests as the criminal case moves. Evidence disappears quickly, so we act early. We look for receipts and security video from the bar or restaurant where the driver drank, nearby traffic and business cameras, and witness names. Take photos of the cars and the road. Write down what the driver said, how they smelled or walked, and whether you saw an open container. A driver in a crash with injury must also report to the DMV within 10 days on form SR-1 (Vehicle Code section 16000). If you are hurt, let a doctor document every symptom. Do not speak with the driver's insurer before you call us.
Your civil case does not wait for the criminal case
Many people think they must wait for a verdict. You do not. Driving under the influence is a crime under Vehicle Code section 23152, and DUI that causes injury is a separate crime under section 23153. Your civil claim runs on its own track. The standard of proof is lower, and you only have to show the driver was negligent. A felony conviction can be offered as evidence to prove the facts behind that conviction (Evidence Code section 1300). A no-contest plea to a misdemeanor cannot be used as an admission in the civil suit (Penal Code section 1016), so we do not depend on a plea. We prove impairment through test results, witness statements, receipts, and officer observations. The usual deadline is two years from the crash to sue for injuries or wrongful death (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1). If the driver is convicted of a felony for the crash, Code of Civil Procedure section 340.3 can add time, up to one year after the criminal judgment. Do not count on that. Call well before the usual deadline, and let us protect your claim from day one.
Punitive damages against an impaired driver
A normal injury claim pays you back for your losses. Punitive damages go further. Their purpose is to punish. California allows them when you prove malice, oppression, or fraud by clear and convincing evidence, and malice includes despicable conduct carried on with a willful and conscious disregard of the rights or safety of others (Civil Code section 3294). In Taylor v. Superior Court (1979) 24 Cal.3d 890, the California Supreme Court held that a drunk driver's conscious disregard of safety can support a punitive damages claim. They are not automatic. We look at how impaired the driver was, whether they had been drinking and then chose to get behind the wheel, any prior DUI history, and whether they ignored warnings. An employer can face punitive damages for an employee's drunk driving only if the employer knew about the employee's unfitness in advance and kept them on with conscious disregard for others' safety, or authorized or ratified the conduct. Punitive damages sit on top of your compensation for losses, so we build both parts of the claim and walk you through them before you choose a strategy.
Insurance limits, bars, and who else may owe you
A driver with minimum coverage carries only $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for injuries and $15,000 for property damage on policies issued or renewed since January 1, 2025. A serious DUI injury can cost far more than that. Your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may add money, and we check every policy. Suing a bar or restaurant is harder than you might expect. California generally holds that serving alcohol is not the legal cause of injuries from an intoxicated adult (Civil Code section 1714 and Business and Professions Code section 25602(b)). The exceptions are narrow. A seller who serves an obviously intoxicated minor can be liable (Business and Professions Code section 25602.1), and an adult who knowingly furnishes alcohol at home to someone under 21 can be liable (Civil Code section 1714(d)). A commercial driver, or a rideshare or taxi driver carrying a paying passenger, faces a lower 0.04 percent limit (Vehicle Code section 23152). Under Proposition 51, each defendant pays pain and suffering damages only for its own share of fault, so we name everyone with a real role.
Medical care, the Torrance courthouse, and how Moe handles your claim
A drunk driving crash can cause fractures, spinal damage, head injuries, and internal bleeding. Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, which the California EMS Authority lists as a Level I adult and pediatric trauma center, sits just outside the city limits in West Carson. Torrance Memorial Medical Center and Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance, which has a 24/7 emergency department at (310) 303-5600, also treat crash patients in the city. Keep all records and follow your doctor's plan, because gaps hurt claims. A civil suit is often filed through the Torrance Courthouse, 825 Maple Ave, but the court may assign a larger injury case elsewhere, and we confirm that first. If a city vehicle played a part, a written government claim is due within six months (Government Code section 911.2). Moe personally handles your case, moves quickly on evidence, and talks to you by call and text. The review is free. You pay nothing unless he wins. Call (323) 716-1992. Se habla Espanol.
Talk to a Torrance drunk driving accident lawyer
Call (323) 716-1992 for a free, no-obligation case review. You pay nothing unless we win, and we'll handle the insurance companies for you. Learn more about our drunk-driving crashes representation →
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Your civil case does not need a conviction. You only need to show the driver was negligent, which is a lower standard than the criminal case. A felony conviction can help as evidence, but we can also prove impairment through tests, witnesses, receipts, and officer notes.
You generally have two years from the crash to sue for injuries, and two years from the date of death for wrongful death. If the driver is convicted of a felony for the crash, you may get up to one year after the criminal judgment. A government claim has only six months.
Possibly. California allows punitive damages when you prove malice by clear and convincing evidence, and the state Supreme Court has held that a drunk driver's conscious disregard of safety can support them. They are not automatic, and every case depends on its facts.
Usually not. California generally does not hold bars or social hosts liable for injuries caused by an intoxicated adult. There are narrow exceptions, such as serving an obviously intoxicated minor or furnishing alcohol at home to someone under 21. We review the facts to see whether an exception applies.
Order the collision report from the Torrance Police Department through LexisNexis eCrash after about 15 days, or by mail or in person from the Records Division at (310) 618-5529. Arrest and test records may take separate requests. We can help you collect them.
Wait. Early offers often arrive before your injuries are fully known, so they may ignore your future care or lost income. Once you accept, you usually cannot ask for more. Call us first. We review the offer for free and tell you what we see.
Often yes. You may have a claim against the driver and their insurer, and your own coverage may apply. Insurers sometimes argue a passenger knew the driver was impaired, which can reduce an award under comparative fault but does not automatically bar it.
The consultation is free. Moe Abdallah Law, P.C. works on contingency, so you pay no fee unless your case is won. You do not pay anything upfront, and Moe is available 24/7 to answer your questions.
Other cases we handle in Torrance
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Drunk Driving Accident lawyers in other cities we serve
Sources & local resources
- Traffic Collision Reports · City of Torrance Police Department
- Torrance 2023 Traffic Safety Rankings · California Office of Traffic Safety
- Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run crash on Pacific Coast Highway in Torrance, 1 person arrested for DUI · ABC7 Los Angeles
- Cal. Vehicle Code section 23152 · California Legislative Information
- Cal. Vehicle Code section 23153 · California Legislative Information
- Cal. Civil Code section 3294 · California Legislative Information
- Cal. Code of Civil Procedure section 340.3 · California Legislative Information
- Cal. Business and Professions Code section 25602.1 · California Legislative Information
- Submit a Claim for Damages
- Torrance 2022 Traffic Safety Rankings
Talk to Moe Abdallah directly
When you call Moe Abdallah Law, you work directly with your attorney and get straight answers, not a call center. Moe takes on the insurance companies and fights for the maximum, and he keeps you updated at every step. The consultation is free and you pay nothing unless he wins.
Real recoveries for real Angelenos
Real recoveries from an attorney who takes your case personally and fights for the maximum.
Rear-ended by a driver who fled, and other firms turned her down. Moe opened an uninsured-motorist claim, proved she could not have been at fault, and secured the full policy limit.
Broke his sternum and had no insurance of his own, and his prior attorney ignored him. Moe took his calls day and night and recovered a settlement that covered his hospital bills and future treatment.
Cut off on the freeway and left with back and neck pain over four months of treatment. Moe secured the full policy limit for his pain and suffering, and his totaled car was reimbursed.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and depends on its own facts.
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I would definitely recommend this firm to anyone looking for reliable legal guidance.
Moe Abdallah is the best attorney around , very professional, attentive, respectful, highly knowledgeable, caring for his clients like family and most importantly gets the job done! Forever thankful I found Moe to help me in my case Got me
I am incredibly grateful to Moe Abdallah Law, P.C. for their outstanding representation following my recent accident. Dealing with injuries, medical bills, and insurance companies was overwhelming, but Moe completely took the burden off my
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