It’s unfortunate to hear or read stories about a mother of three and two of her children allegedly killed by a man with a history of drunk driving who drove into oncoming traffic on a highway. However, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drunk driving accident fatalities happen more often than not. The CDC says that in the United States, 32 people every day, one every 45 minutes, are killed in accidents involving a drunk driver. That’s not even counting the victims that have to live with injuries that result from drunk driving accidents.
If you or a loved one is involved in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you’ll need the help of an experienced drunk driving accident attorney who has handled many of these kinds of cases. By discovering the cause of your accident, they can leverage that information to get you the compensation you need to put the broken pieces of your life back together again.
Unfortunately, drunk driving accidents are not just limited to motor vehicles. Motorcycle riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians have also been personal injury victims of drivers who are intoxicated. Drunk drivers have impaired judgment when driving and are menaces to everyone who uses the roads.
For example, if a suspected DUI driver makes a left turn in front of a motorcycle that causes a crash and injures the motorcyclist, the drunk driver should be held responsible for paying to repair the injuries and damages if it’s found that they were legally drunk. They should also be held accountable if they’re so impaired that they can’t maintain a straight path and veer into the back of a bicyclist, striking them, which results in throwing them off their bike. A father of a newborn should feel safe while walking his dog. Instead, a 17-year-old, allegedly driving drunk and without a license, hits him killing him and his dog. Someone must pay for the injuries and damages his family now has to endure.
That’s when an attorney can help you. They can help preserve evidence and collect the documentation needed to support your claim that a drunk driver caused injuries and damages and should compensate you or your family for them.
Your attorney can collect evidence that will be able to support a drunk driving causation theory. Evidence that your drunk driving lawyer can collect includes:
Your attorney can collect police reports that may corroborate that a driver was drunk and caused the accident that you were involved in. Police reports contain accident details, diagrams, citations, and notes on the police officer’s observations. If the police officer performed sobriety or breathalyzer tests, they may include the results in the police report.
Witness statements are important pieces of information because the witnesses may have observed erratic driving or excessive speed that might indicate drunk driving. Testimony from expert analysts like accident reconstruction specialists might further suggest that drunk driving had a role in your accident. Once your drunk driving attorney collects evidence that indicates that it is more likely than not that drunk driving was the cause of your accident, this may contribute to a satisfactory settlement process.
Generally, bar businesses that sell alcohol or private party hosts who serve alcohol cannot be held liable for injuries caused by someone that was consuming alcohol in their bar or party and then caused an accident. The idea is that selling and serving drinks is not what causes injuries and damages in a drunk driving accident. The willful acts of consuming alcohol and driving while intoxicated are the primary cause of a victim’s injuries.
However, that all changes when the drunk driver is underage. There are three scenarios that may make a third party liable along with a drunk driver. One of the circumstances that can introduce a third party to a drunk driving accident claim is if a party host knowingly serves alcohol to someone under the age of 21, and that person causes an accident. In this case, the party host may be liable not only for the unfortunate victim’s damages but also for the underaged drunk driver’s damages as well.
Another situation that can warrant third-party liability in a drunk driving accident is when a bartender serves someone under 21 without checking their ID. The victim of a drunk driving accident can file a claim against the drunk driver, the bartender, and the bar. The last scenario addresses those that aren’t licensed to sell alcohol but bring a bottle to a party and sell shots to those that are clearly under 21. The seller of the alcohol can also be named as a responsible party for a drunk driving accident victim’s damages.
In the case of the 17-year-old that allegedly killed the man and his dog, an attorney would have to determine how the teenager had access to alcohol. If the lawyer can find evidence that someone willingly sold or served alcohol to the teenager, that person may be liable. Likewise, if the teenager could purchase alcohol without an ID check.
When the actions of a drunk driver cause you or your family financial loss, pain, and suffering, you’ll need the advice of the experienced attorneys at Kash Legal. They will collect documentation and evidence to support the claim that a drunk driver caused the vehicle accident. Then, they will give it their all to help get you the maximum compensation you need to heal and get your life back on track again.
The lawyers at Kash Legal have seen many cases like this and have proficiently navigated legal complexities to get their clients fair compensation. Their experience and expertise will provide you with the same level of service. Take advantage of a free consultation from the attorneys at Kash Legal by calling (888) 527-4128 or completing our contact form.
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