Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers for DUI Accident Victims

Drunk Driving Caused Car Accidents

A surprising number of the accident cases we encounter involve alcohol-related causation. Intoxicated drivers frequently become disoriented, make dangerous maneuvers, lose control of their vehicles, or drive the wrong way on the road.

When drunk drivers enter highways or interstates traveling in the wrong direction it can cause catastrophic head-on collisions often at high speeds, which can give rise to victims being killed on impact. Wrong-way crashes involving alcohol impairment are over 60% more likely to be fatal than typical wrecks.

Additionally, alcohol impairs a driver's ability to recognize and obey traffic signals and stop signs. A substantial number of the cases involving drivers running a red light or stop sign are alcohol-related. This can give rise to T-bone accidents resulting in severe side-impact injuries.

Impaired drivers are prone to misjudge distances and have slower reaction times. They are especially prone to causing high-speed rear-end collisions, often late at night, hitting unsuspecting drivers from behind. These crashes often cause severe whiplash, neck injuries, and spinal trauma to occupants of the struck vehicle.

Even BAC levels below the legal limit, while not necessarily illegal, can impair judgment and reaction times and trigger behaviors that cause accidents.

Severe Injury Profiles of Victims

In our experience over the decades litigating car accident cases, drunk driving accidents are more likely to result in catastrophic injury profiles. Victims lucky enough to survive a serious accident find their lives have been transformed forever. Alcohol-related accidents tend to involve high-velocity impacts and drunk drivers are less likely to brake before a collision.

The debilitating physical injuries and trauma caused by these avoidable accidents meansse trauma caused by these avoidable crashes is heartbreaking to witnessInternal organ damage from drunk driving crashes is particularly severe due to the high-velocity impacts and lack of evasive action, often requiring emergency surgery and extended hospitalization.

Many survivors are left with shattered bodies, broken futures, and mounting medical bills. The tragic nature of these accidents is compounded because the victims know their injuries were completely preventable had the driver simply made the responsible choice not to drive impaired. Our accident lawyers understand and expect anger and outrage the victims families experience in the aftermath. We're here to help you every step of the way.

Fatal Accidents

Families of those killed in these preventable crashes often struggle with a complex grief compounded by rage that their loved one's death was avoidable. Our specialized attorneys understand the complex interplay of criminal and civil proceedings in alcohol-impaired driving cases. Winning big in civil litigation is a path to accountability and sends a powerful message. While we can't undo what happened, we can help you secure the compensation you need to rebuild your life and hold all responsible parties accountable.

In some cases drunk driving accident victims may be entitled to punitive damages beyond standard compensation. These additional damages are designed to punish particularly reckless behavior — discuss your case with our attorneys to review the legal options in your jurisdiction. Our attorneys have secured substantial settlements and verdicts for drunk driving accident victims and will fight to secure the full justice you deserve.

Hit and Run Accidents

Intoxicated drivers are prone to flee the scene of an accident to avoid breathalyzer tests, DUI charges, and the severe legal penalties of dui dwi crashes. During the investigation surveillance footage and eyewitness testimony can prove critical to help identify and locate these fleeing drivers. At the same time our legal team will work to build a powerful case against these negligent drivers who compound their offense by abandoning the injured victims at the accident scene. While the impaired driver who hit you remains unidentified it typically triggers your uninsured motorist coverage.

Your legal options can be limited if the responsible party is not identified. The person who chose to drive drunk should bear the financial responsibility for your damages.

Dram Shop Liability Claims

Many drunk driving incidents occur in the parking lots of establishments that served alcohol to the impaired driver. In some cases dram shop liability claims against the establishment that over-served the driver. Multiple liability sources can provide additional financial compensation for victims and their families.

As the overserved intoxicated person attempts to leave the premises they are at higher risk of hitting pedestrians of striking other vehicles. If we take your case our firm will help you identify all potential liable parties including legal options the dram shop laws in your state may entitle you.

We have deep experience securing big settlements and verdicts against intoxicated drivers, negligent establishments that over-served them, and insurance companies that initially refused to acknowledge the full extent of our clients' life-altering damages and long-term medical needs

Target Fixation Accidents

This dangerous psychological phenomenon is known as "target fixation," causing impaired drivers to unconsciously steer directly toward what they're staring at rather than steering to avoid it. They will often maintain a straight trajectory directly into the victim to devastating effect despite having ample time and space to avoid the crash.

Rear-end accidents are particularly common with drunk drivers experiencing target fixation, especially during nighttime driving. The drivers fixate on the bright red tail lights of stopped vehicles ahead and make no evasive maneuvers before impact.

The target fixation phenomenon becomes even more deadly when pedestrians are involved.

Drunk drivers frequently fail to notice pedestrians in crosswalks or cyclists sharing the road. When these drivers strike pedestrians or hit bicycle riders it can be especially devastating because of their physical vulnerability.

Pedestrians suffer disproportionately severe injuries when struck, including life-threatening trauma and permanent disabilities. Head injuries are especially common in the secondary impact with the hard surface of the road after behing knocked down. 25% of fatal pedestrian accidents involved an alcohol-impaired driver behind the wheel.

In the courtroom we can use toxicology reports to tie the driver's blood alcohol concentration and impairment patterns at various BAC levels to establish a direct causal connection.

Remember, you pay nothing unless we win your case. Don't let the drunk driver's insurance company minimize your suffering or deny the full extent of their negligence.