Cases involving drunk drivers can be complex and difficult. Often the drunk driver’s criminal case that separate from but related to the civil case takes precedent, allowing the drunk driver to refuse to testify in a deposition until the criminal case is resolved. It is important that if you’ve been the victim of a drunk driving crash to hire experienced injury lawyers who have a history of recovering for clients in similar situations.

Another reason drunk driving cases can be complex is there are often multiple injured parties, and there can also be multiple parties responsible. A set of laws known as Dram Shop allow a person who has been injured by a drunk driver to sue not only the drunk driver to recover for their injuries and damages, but also the bar or establishment that served the drunk driver before he or she got behind the wheel. Dram Shop statutes and case law deal specifically with this issue, so again, it is important to hire an attorney with experience in this field.

Mothers against drunk driving (MADD) has posted telling statistics with respect to drunk driving in the United States. According to MADD:

  • Almost half of all drivers who were killed in crashes and tested positive for drugs also had alcohol in their system.
  • About one-third of all drivers arrested or convicted of driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence of alcohol are repeat offenders.
  • Adults drank too much and got behind the wheel about 112 million times in 2010 – that is almost 300,000 incidents of drinking and driving each day.

Catastrophic injuries and drunk driving

One of the primary causes of brain injuries is trauma suffered following a motor vehicle accident involving a drunk driver. The traumatic brain injuries tend to occur either due to stress on the brain caused by impact, sometimes accompanied by a skull fracture and sometimes manifesting as a contusion, or alternatively from objects actually penetrating the skull, causing brain injuries.

The effects of TBI are serious. They can range from mild concussions to permanent damage or death.

If you were injured in an accident involving drunk driving, you should promptly seek the help of a personal injury attorney with experience in representing the victims of drunk driving accidents. A skilled drunk driving accident attorney can help to ensure that you receive the best possible medical care and compensation for your injuries to the maximum extent permitted by law.

We have significant experience in managing personal injury cases, including those arising from the negligent and reckless act of getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle while intoxicated.