What is an Alcohol-Related Accident?
It is estimated that approximately three out of every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related accident at some point in their lives. An alcohol-related accident, crash or collision refers to any event involving alcohol-related driving behavior.
Criminal and Civil Liability for Alcohol-Related Accidents
If a driver is intoxicated, impaired, or drunk, and causes a crash, the driver may criminal charges for driving under the influence of alcohol and causing injury or death, and may be forced to pay fines, and serve jail time and community service. Drunk drivers may also have their license suspended or revoked. In addition to criminal penalties, a drunk driver may also be held civilly liable for a victim’s injuries or death in a personal injury or wrongful death claim. It is important for families to understand their legal options for pursuing compensation in a civil claim, because criminal penalties alone do nothing to ease the financial toll of an injury or loved one’s unexpected death. A civil personal injury claim can hold a drunk driver financially accountable for their actions and compensate victims for medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering and other related damages.
Skilled Advocates for DUI Accident Victims
At Estey Bomberger, our DUI accident personal injury attorneys have a long record of success in representing victims of alcohol-related car accidents. In many cases we have been able to obtain the maximum compensation available through insurance policy limits for our clients’ injuries in drunken driving accidents. We have also been able to hold accountable clubs, taverns, bars, restaurants and hotels that improperly provide alcohol to minors and obviously intoxicated patrons. If we are unable to obtain a fair settlement within a reasonable amount of time, we will waste no time in taking a case to trial.
Types of Alcohol Related Crash Injuries
DUI accidents often cause very serious injuries that may result in a lengthy recovery time or permanent disability. Because the cost of caring for a serious injury can easily exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars, it is essential to hire an attorney with the skills and experience necessary to recover full and fair compensation. At Estey Bomberger, our DUI accident injury lawyers have represented victims of all types of DUI accident injuries, including:
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Blunt trauma injuries
• Broken bone injuries
• Catastrophic injuries
• Wrongful death.
Our California personal injury lawyers have recovered more than $100 million for victims of serious injury and wrongful death in California. Our case results are a testament to our goal-oriented, results-specific approach, and ability to help our clients recover the maximum compensation they are entitled to for their injuries. For an immediate telephone consultation, call us anytime at (800) 784-9180, or fill out a case evaluation request form. Consultations are always free and are available at our office or your home or hospital. In the event we handle your claim, we will not charge any fees unless we recover money for you.
California Drug-Impaired Driving Accident Lawyer
Drug impaired drivers cause thousands of injuries and deaths every year in California. Drivers who drive under the influence of drugs – whether they are illegal, prescribed or even over-the-counter – put themselves, their passengers and everyone on the road in danger. The combination of drugs and alcohol is especially dangerous. Even over-the-counter medications, such as Benadryl, when combined with a single alcoholic beverage, can cause impairment serious enough to make a driver unable to safely operate a vehicle.
Driving Under the Influence of Illegal Drugs
It is illegal to drive under the influence of any illegal drug, including but not limited to cocaine, marijuana, crack cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, LSD, acid, PCP, meth, crystal meth, and inhalants. Additionally, as with victims of alcohol-related accidents, victims of drug-related accidents and their families may pursue compensation for their injuries or loss against the driver in a personal injury or wrongful death claim.
Protecting Victims’ Rights
After any accident that is suspected to involve a drug-impaired driver, it is critical to contact a lawyer right away, so that evidence may be preserved and an investigation may be commenced. It may be more difficult to prove that a driver was under the influence of a drug than proving a driver was under the influence of alcohol, as drug-impaired drivers may pass breathalyzer tests. At Estey Bomberger, our attorneys can arrange for independent testing if there is any evidence that illegal drugs may be responsible for an accident. As time passes, evidence is lost and witness recollections may be forgotten. For this reason, it is never to soon to consult with a lawyer who can begin investigating your case and establishing liability.
Advocates for Victims of Drug-Related Accidents
The drug-related accident victim attorneys at Estey Bomberger are advocates for victims of all types of DUI accidents. Regardless of the driver’s drug or alcoholic beverage of choice, the pain caused by a serious injury or a loved one’s unexpected death is the same. DUI accidents are 100% preventable. Drivers who make the choice to drive under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both must be held accountable for their actions and the accidents they cause. When others – such as parents who allow minors to drive under the influence, or employers who do nothing to stop a knowingly intoxicated person from getting behind the wheel of a company car – do nothing to stop it, they may be liable for their choices as well.
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