INJURED? CALL US TODAY  877-BICE-877

 

Accidents Caused by Drunk Drivers

Accidents Caused by Drunk Drivers

Car Accident Attorney Holding Drunk Drivers Liable

Every single driver on the road should know how dangerous it is to drink and drive. The laws in both North Carolina and South Carolina set out potentially harsh penalties for people who drive under the influence, and law enforcement officers are always on the lookout for drivers who may be impaired. Despite all of this, millions of people continue to get behind the wheel while intoxicated each year, putting everyone else in serious danger.

Getting hit by a drunk driver can be particularly infuriating, as you know the accident could have been completely prevented had the driver complied with the law. The law entitles victims of drunk driving accidents to full compensation for their injury-related losses, however, obtaining this compensation is rarely an easy process. While you deal with your physical recovery from your injuries, allow our highly experienced car accident lawyer at Bice Law LLC to handle your legal claim. For more information and to discuss your rights for free, contact us online or call us today.

Drunk Driving Leads to Devastating Crashes

Alcohol can have many effects on the body and brain, impairing a person’s ability to drive surprisingly quickly. Drunk drivers commonly lose focus and concentration, exercise poor judgment, violate traffic laws, and fail to maintain control of their vehicles, among many other dangerous behaviors. Everyone around a drunk driver is in danger, and this includes:

Passengers in the vehicle with the drunk driver
Drivers and passengers in other vehicles
Pedestrians
Bicyclists
Motorcyclists

Drunk drivers can cause many different types of crashes, all of which have the potential to cause severe injuries to others. The following are some common drunk driving collisions:

Head-on collisions – Drunk drivers are notorious for straying from their intended lane. In some situations, a drunk driver may swerve or drift out of a left hand lane, cross the double yellow line, and drive into the path of oncoming traffic. If oncoming cars cannot stop, this can result in a head-on crash, which is often deadly. Even if a highway has a median, drunk drivers have been known to drive the wrong way – directly toward unsuspecting oncoming vehicles.

Rear-end collisions – Drunk drivers can have blurry vision, disrupted depth perception, and difficulty paying attention to their surroundings. They may misjudge the distance between them and the car in front of them or may become distracted and fail to realize when traffic is slowing down. They also may engage in behaviors such as speeding, tailgating, or dangerous lane changes that can cause them to rear-end another vehicle or for another vehicle to crash into the back of the drunk driver’s car.

Rollover accidents – Drunk drivers may hit curbs, fail to slow down enough on curves or turns, over-correct due to swerving, and more. All of these may cause their vehicle to rollover – often, several times. Any passengers inside the rolling vehicle can sustain serious injuries, and the rolling car may also crash into other vehicles or people in the vicinity, causing widespread damages and injury.

Any type of collision can be life-threatening due to the severity of potential injuries. If a drunk driver injured you in some way, you should seek immediate medical attention. Getting a proper diagnosis will not only ensure you receive the treatment you need but also that you have clear records of all of your accident-related injuries, treatments, and expenses. Then, you should consult with our skilled personal injury lawyer for free regarding the next steps to take.

Seeking Compensation from Impaired Drivers

After an accident, you should call 911 so that emergency medical personnel and law enforcement officers arrive at the scene. If the other driver gets out of their vehicle and shows signs of intoxication, stay in your car (if it is safe to do so) until the police arrive. Some drunk individuals may become aggressive, so you never want to confront them on your own.

If police officers arrive and suspect the driver is impaired, the officers can conduct roadside tests to get probable cause for an arrest. If the driver gets arrested, they will likely face criminal charges for driving under the influence. While a criminal conviction can impose penalties on the drunk driver, such as probation, fines, or time in jail, this case often does little to help the injured victims of the drunk driving accident.

In order to seek compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses, you should speak with a qualified car accident lawyer. An attorney can help you with the following and more:

Determine which party or parties may be held liable
Calculate the value of your past and future losses
Prepare and file an insurance claim
Communicate with the insurance adjuster
Review all settlement offers and negotiate a higher offer when needed (which is often)
Determine when you need to file a personal injury lawsuit to obtain the full amount you deserve

A criminal conviction can help prove a drunk driver’s negligence, though you will still need to prove the dollar amount of damages you seek. Insurance companies have many tactics to try to limit payouts, even if it is clear the policyholder was at fault. It is always best to have an attorney handling your claim, as insurers will try to take advantage of unrepresented parties, and you risk losing important compensation you need to cover your losses.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer

After a drunk driving accident, you will likely feel shaken up and want justice. At Bice Law LLC, we firmly believe that all drunk drivers should be fully accountable for any injuries or losses they caused. We know the legal issues and possible complications in drunk driving accident claims, and we are ready to protect your rights as an accident victim. To schedule a free consultation with our skilled personal injury attorney, please contact us online or call 877-BICE-877.