Every year, thousands of Americans are injured or killed in crashes caused by drunk drivers. When someone chooses to get behind the wheel while impaired, they put others at risk, and victims and/or their surviving loved ones are often left facing overwhelming physical, emotional and financial challenges in the wake of such wrecks.
Advocating for the rights of drunk driving victims means working to hold negligent drivers accountable and working to better ensure that victims receive the compensation and justice they deserve.
These cases deserve a special kind of care
Victims of drunk driving accidents may suffer catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain damage, spinal cord injuries and internal trauma. For those victims who survive, recovery can be a long, costly journey. For the loved ones of those who don’t, recovering from their loss can be a painfully long and costly journey as well.
As a result, the financial strain that follows a drunk driving wreck can be severe, especially because it is almost always necessarily combined with the emotional impact of knowing that the crash could have been avoided. A strong legal advocate can help victims and their families navigate the claims process, deal with insurance companies and seek full compensation for both economic and non-economic losses accordingly.
In many cases, personal injury claims involving drunk drivers extend beyond concerns related to negligence. Driving under the influence is a criminal act, and in civil court, it can potentially justify claims for punitive damages. These damages are designed to punish particularly reckless or intentional behavior and to deter others from making the same dangerous choices. An experienced attorney can help identify all potential avenues of recovery, including claims against bars or establishments that over-served the driver, commonly referred to as dram shop liability.
Advocating for victims also means working to ensure that their voices are heard throughout the legal process. Insurance companies may attempt to settle quickly for less than what a case is worth, and victims deserve representation that pushes for the full value of their claim.
Drunk driving shatters lives, but victims do not have to face the aftermath alone. By standing up for their rights, a skilled legal team can help victims rebuild their lives and send a clear message that harm caused by impaired driving will not go unchallenged.