UCLA-Trained Attorneys in Westwood
If you were hit by a drunk driver in Westwood, California, you may be entitled to more than ordinary compensation — California courts have held that DUI can constitute the 'conscious disregard' required for punitive damages under Civil Code §3294. Westwood Law builds the full record of the driver's conduct, pursues every insurance layer, and fights for every dollar the law provides.We Lived Here Before We Practiced Here
Curt and I both went to law school at UCLA, and we lived in Westwood the whole time. We've watched the Village change and transform as businesses came and went. We also know what it's like to make the trek out to Pasadena for a game at the Rose Bowl, and what that drive turns into when everyone leaves at once.
Why Your Case Is Different
The overwhelming majority of recorded collisions here happen at San Diego Freeway interchanges rather than on Village streets. Wilshire, Sunset and Santa Monica Boulevard all cross the 405 inside this neighborhood, and those crossings account for most of the injury crashes on record.
California courts have repeatedly held that driving under the influence can constitute "malice" or "conscious disregard for the rights and safety of others" — the standard for punitive damages under Civil Code §3294. This can significantly increase your total recovery beyond compensatory damages alone.
California's dram shop law (Business and Professions Code §25602) limits social host liability but allows claims against commercial establishments that serve visibly intoxicated customers who later cause accidents. If a bar or restaurant over-served the driver, they may share liability.
What We Know About Westwood
- UCLA and its medical centers:A campus population in the tens of thousands plus two major hospitals means heavy pedestrian, cyclist and rideshare volume concentrated in a small area. Claims here frequently involve institutional defendants and commercial policies rather than individual drivers.
- The Wilshire high-rise corridor:One of the densest concentrations of residential towers in Los Angeles, with the parking structures, driveways and valet operations that come with them. Premises and backing-collision claims in this corridor usually involve professional property management and their insurers.
- Westwood Village:A 1920s planned commercial district built for the campus, with short blocks, heavy foot traffic and constant loading activity. Right-of-way and visibility are the recurring disputes in pedestrian claims here.
Crash Data
Most Dangerous Intersections
Recent Crashes
Compensation Available in Your Case
Medical Expenses
Emergency care, surgery, and ongoing rehabilitation for injuries from DUI crash trauma.
Lost Wages
Income lost while recovering from your injuries.
Pain & Suffering
Physical pain and emotional distress — including fear and PTSD from the crash.
Property Damage
Vehicle and personal property destroyed in the collision.
Punitive Damages
DUI constitutes conscious disregard for public safety — courts have upheld punitive damage awards against drunk drivers in California.
Wrongful Death Damages
When a DUI accident is fatal, surviving family members can recover compensatory and punitive damages.
Call us Today. No fee until you win!
818-224-7940What to Do After a Drunk Driver Accident
DUI accident cases have unique evidentiary opportunities — criminal prosecution records, BAC results, and prior history — that can significantly increase your recovery.
Call 911 and report suspected drunk driving
Tell the dispatcher you believe the other driver was impaired. This initiates DUI testing and documentation.
Cooperate with police but don't speculate
Provide your account of what happened. Ask the officer whether the other driver was tested for alcohol or drugs.
Seek immediate medical care
DUI accidents cause serious trauma. Full emergency evaluation documents your injuries.
Obtain the police report
The DUI arrest record and BAC results are powerful evidence. We obtain these records early in the case.
Document the at-fault driver's impairment evidence
Open containers, smell of alcohol, slurred speech — document anything you observed at the scene.
Contact Westwood Law
DUI cases have additional evidentiary value — criminal records, BAC results, and prior DUI history — that we leverage to maximize your recovery.