Maison Law helps car accident victims in Hanford. Dealing with a car accident is always tough, and it becomes even more challenging when the driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you or someone you care about has been injured in such an accident, contact us today for a free consultation to talk about your legal options.
Do You Need a Lawyer After a DUI Accident?
A DUI accident is, at its core, still a car accident. But the reality is that they’re much different in terms of the damage and injuries that come out of them. So, a DUI accident is not like other car accidents, and that means you’ll probably need legal help.
Our Hanford DUI accident lawyers can make this process significantly easier by:
- Investigating the accident thoroughly
- Confirming the other driver was intoxicated
- Gathering and organizing medical records and evidence
- Explaining your rights and options clearly
- Negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf
- Filing a lawsuit if needed, aiming to simplify the process and support your claim
Who Covers Your Costs in a DUI Accident?
Determining who pays for your damages is a crucial step in your case. This is legally known as establishing liability, and it’s fairly straightforward DUI accidents where the intoxicated driver is mostly at fault.
However, there’s other people that could potentially be involved–and have to share some of the responsibility for covering your damages:
- Car owners might be responsible if they let someone who’s under the influence drive their car.
- Drivers who were speeding or not paying attention could also be partly at fault.
- People who serve alcohol or drugs at a gathering might be responsible if an intoxicated guest causes an accident.
- Bars or restaurants could be at fault if they gave too much alcohol to someone who then caused an accident.
- Local agencies could be to blame for accidents caused by roads that aren’t kept in good condition.
- If there was something wrong with the vehicle that made the accident worse, the manufacturer might be responsible.
DUI accidents are upsetting because they’re usually avoidable, and it’s crucial to determine who’s responsible to fully address your injuries and recover.
What Kind of Accidents Happen Because of Driving Under the Influence?
What makes a DUI accident so difficult is that it’s often so severe that it leads to serious injuries, and even deaths for people involved. This has a lot to do with the intensity of the impact and the fact that drivers under the influence either can’t react as quickly or don’t even notice you at all.
Frequently, this means dealing with following types of accidents:
- Rear-end accidents – These happen when a drunk driver follows too closely or doesn’t pay attention, crashing into the vehicle ahead.
- Head-on accidents – These happen when impaired vision causes drunk drivers to veer into oncoming traffic or drive the wrong way on one-way streets, resulting in frontal collisions.
- T-bone accidents – These typically result from drunk drivers ignoring traffic signals like stop signs or red lights, colliding with vehicles that have the right of way, causing side-impact crashes.
- Rollover accidents – Drunk drivers’ impaired judgment of speed and overcorrection can lead to losing control of their vehicles, causing rollover accidents that are especially dangerous for passengers.
- Pedestrian or bicycle accidents – Drunk drivers also endanger pedestrians and cyclists who may not be visible due to impaired driving, leading to severe injuries or deaths.
It’s worth repeating that the injuries you could suffer in these accidents are often very severe. You can expect to face traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, or other harm. At that point, your physical and mental recovery is going to depend on what you can get out of the claims process.
What Damages Can You Get in a DUI Accident Claim?
While a DUI accident presents significant challenges, it remains fundamentally a car accident. Therefore, your legal options center on filing an injury claim to seek “damages” from whoever is responsible.
From severe injuries to potential loss of life, these factors are crucial in evaluating your case and determining your damages. Your options include filing:
- An insurance claim
- A personal injury lawsuit
With your claim filed, you can potentially recover:
- Medical expenses covering all healthcare costs related to the accident, including hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and treatments.
- Lost wages for income lost due to inability to work because of injuries sustained in the accident.
- Property damage covering repair or replacement costs for damaged vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, or personal belongings.
- Pain and suffering damages that covers any physical pain and discomfort resulting from the accident and injuries.
- Emotional distress addressing the psychological impact of the accident, such as anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
- Loss of companionship and quality of life reflecting how injuries affect relationships and ability to enjoy daily activities.
- Wrongful death expenses if the accident results in a death, covering funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and emotional suffering.
- Punitive damages additional damages awarded in cases of intentional negligence or recklessness to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior.
Like any accident, the specific damages you can get depends on the circumstances of your accident and level and severity of your injuries. Equally as important is filing your claim within California’s statute of limitations. You must file your claim within two years of the accident date to preserve your right to recover these damages.
What Can You Do to Support Your Claim?
Dealing with a DUI accident involves more than just filing a claim. While being hit by an intoxicated driver makes it fairly straightforward in terms of legal liability, you don’t have an automatic ticket to your damages. You have to support your claim with evidence and information. Here’s what you can do to support your claim:
- Get medical help ASAP – Immediately call 911 after the accident. Tell the police that you suspect the other driver is under the influence.
- Document the accident scene and your injuries – Collect evidence and note any signs of intoxication exhibited by the other driver. Also, take pictures or videos of the accident and your injuries for a visual record.
- Cooperate with any investigations – Provide your statement to the police and explain why you believe the other driver was intoxicated.
During this challenging time, it’s important to stay calm, prioritize your well-being, and remember that help is available from our team of DUI accident lawyers. We can not only give you vital legal support, but make sure your claim remains strong throughout the process.
Reach Out to Maison Law After a Hanford DUI Accident
Being in any car accident is frightening, but it becomes even more serious when the other driver is intoxicated. You might be coping with severe injuries or the loss of a loved one. You don’t need to handle this alone. Maison Law and our team of Hanford DUI accident lawyers are here to support you and your family. If you’ve been involved in a DUI accident and want to learn more about your legal options, contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
