Maison Law represents car accident victims in Glendale. Car accidents are always challenging, but these difficulties increase when the accident involves a driver that’s under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you or a loved one has been injured in such an accident, contact us today for a free consultation.
Do You Even Need a Lawyer?
A DUI accident is particularly troubling and complex. While you don’t need a lawyer to file a claim, the severity of injuries and other factors often mean that you need legal help. We’re here to simplify the legal process by investigating the accident, establishing the other driver’s intoxication, organizing medical records and evidence, guiding you through your rights and options, negotiating with insurance companies, and, if necessary, initiating a lawsuit. Our aim is to streamline the process for you, providing the guidance you need for a strong claim.
What Options Do You Have After a DUI Accident?
Although a DUI accident is incredibly challenging, it’s still a car accident at its core. Thus, the legal options you have are built around filing an injury claim to recover “damages” from the responsible parties.
From serious injuries to the potential loss of life, these factors are pivotal in evaluating your case and determining your damages. In terms of your actual options, you can either file:
- An insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
Once your claim is filed, you can recover certain damages like:
- Medical expenses – These cover all healthcare costs related to the accident, including hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and treatments.
- Lost wages – This category of damages is for income you lose due to not being able to work because of your injuries.
- Property damage – These provide repair or replacement costs for damaged vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, or any other personal belongings.
- Pain and suffering – These address physical pain and discomfort resulting from the accident and injuries.
- Emotional distress – These are built around the psychological impact of the accident, such as anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
- Loss of companionship and quality of life – These damages reflect how injuries affect relationships and ability to enjoy activities.
- Wrongful death expenses – These come into play if the accident results in the death of a loved one, covering funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and emotional suffering.
- Punitive damages – These are additional damages given in cases of intentional negligence or recklessness. They further punish the wrongdoer and are meant to deter similar behavior.
It’s crucial to remember that the specific damages recoverable depend on the circumstances of your accident and injuries. Additionally, in California, you must file your claim within two years of the accident date, as missing this deadline could result in missing out on your right to recover these damages.
Who Pays For Your Damages in a DUI Accident?
Every case is different, but a huge milestone for your claim is going to be figuring out who pays for your damages. In legal terms, this means establishing liability, which is set by negligence. Fortunately, this is fairly straightforward in a DUI accident–liability is going to fall mostly on the driver that is under the influence and caused the accident.
However, it’s important to understand that when there’s a DUI accident, responsibility can be shared among different people involved. This can include:
- Owners of the car – Car owners, who could be responsible if they let someone who’s under the influence drive their car.
- Other drivers – Other drivers, who might be partly responsible if they were driving too fast or not paying attention.
- Home or property owners – Homeowners, who might be at fault if they served alcohol at a party and someone drove drunk afterward. It also applies if drugs are at the party.
- Businesses – Places like bars and restaurants can be blamed if they give drinks to someone who’s already very drunk or underage, and then they cause an accident.
- Glendale city government – Local government agencies that work for the city, county, and even state might be responsible for accidents caused by bad roads or not keeping roads safe.
- Manufacturers – Vehicle or parts makers, who could be blamed if there was something wrong with the car that made the accident worse.
DUI accidents are upsetting because they’re often avoidable. It’s especially worrying when more than one person is to blame. But it’s important to figure out who’s responsible for any claim so they can be made to pay for your injuries and other damages.
What Injuries Can You Have in a DUI Accident?
One of the things that makes a DUI accident so challenging is that it results in serious injuries for you and anyone else involved, including the other driver. Because driving under the influence takes away virtually any ability to drive in a safe way, it makes the impact more severe in more vulnerable parts of both your body and your vehicle. This adds up to rather serious injuries like:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Broken bones, especially to your arms, legs, and facial areas
- Neck and spinal injuries
- Torn ligaments
- Burns
The nature of DUI accidents unfortunately often leads to fatal injuries. This makes the legal process very important to your overall recovery or can allow your surviving family members to move forward. Still, it’s important to look at what you can do to help your claim.
How Can You Help Your DUI Accident Claim?
Dealing with a DUI accident isn’t as simple as just filing a claim. Even though being hit by a driver that’s under the influence can make for a strong case, you still need to do a few things to help yourself:
- Call 911 – Always call emergency services right after the accident. Make sure to tell the police that you think the other driver is under the influence.
- Document everything – Gather evidence and note any signs of intoxication from the other driver.
- Cooperate with investigations – Give your account to the police and explain why you think the other driver was under the influence.
- Get medical help – Get medical help, even if it seems minor. Your medical records will link your injuries to the DUI accident.
As with any car accident, you have to try to remain calm at the scene, prioritize your health and safety, and remember, you have help if you need it. Our team of experienced DUI accident lawyers at Maison Law can guide you through these steps and give you further information about what you can do.
Contact Maison Law After a Glendale DUI Accident
Being in any type of car accident is scary, but it takes on a different meaning when the other driver is under the influence. It’s possible that you’re dealing with serious injuries or even the loss of a loved one. You don’t have to face this situation alone. Maison Law and our team of Glendale DUI accident lawyers will be there to help you and your family. If you’ve been in a DUI accident and want to know more about your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation.
