Whenever someone operates a motor vehicle on the road, they owe a duty of care to other motorists, passengers, and pedestrians to drive safely and reasonably. As many people have discovered, life can still turn upside down– due to other people’s reckless actions. Drunk driving is an issue everywhere, and at Showard Law Firm, we are reminded regularly that we are not immune in Tucson.
In 2018 in the State of Arizona, 285 people were tragically killed in drunk driving accidents, which represented 28.2% of all traffic fatalities.
Common injuries for drunk driver victims
When someone is under the influence, their focus, judgment, and reaction times are all impaired– which is especially dangerous when driving at high speeds in traffic. Drunk driving accidents can cause a wide variety of injuries, comprising everything from minor wounds to fatalities. Here are a few of the more common ones:
- Scrapes, cuts, and lacerations
- Bumps and bruises
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal wounds
- Organ damage
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Amputations or loss of limbs
- Paralysis
- Death
You have just been in a drunk driving accident; now what?
If you are in a drunk driving accident, what you do in the moments immediately following the crash are very important for you and your Tucson car accident lawyer
Your first course of action should be to call the police. They will interview you, and during that conversation, be sure to mention that you believe the other driver is under the influence. This information may aid the police officer in establishing reasonable grounds for a field sobriety test for the other driver. Make sure this information is part of the official police report. Again, this documentation may prove invaluable to your lawyer.
Damages you may recover in a drunk driving accident lawsuit
Depending on the severity of the accident, you may be eligible for a drunk driving accident lawsuit whereby you may be granted financial compensation for any injuries you or your loved ones incurred. If you have tragically lost a loved one, you may be eligible for a wrongful death claim. If you were the injured party, the following are some of the damages for which you may be compensated:
- All related doctor and hospital bills
- Future medical bills
- Loss of income, which focuses on the past– what you have already lost
- Loss of earning capacity, which looks to the future
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Damage to your property
- Reduction in the enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Burial and funeral expenses
- Punitive damages, assuming the other driver is found to have been intoxicated at the time of the accident
Drunk driver victims need to stand up for their rights
While a drunk driving accident in itself can be devastating, victims of these crashes do have the right to achieve justice for their injuries. Take note that insurance companies will offer the bare minimum. If you try to negotiate directly on your own, the chances are that you will end up with a substantially lower amount of compensation than you could have gotten.
Because these are often complex cases, working with an experienced drunk driving accident lawyer can help maximize the amount of financial recovery for you and your family. Additionally, there are instances where drunk drivers who cause significant injuries to others either do not have automobile insurance or are underinsured.
Again, if this happens to you, working with a skilled lawyer who knows exactly which steps to take to ensure that you still achieve the financial compensation you deserve– can make a significant difference for you and your family.
Do not delay in pursuing your drunk driving accident lawsuit
If you or a loved one has been a victim of a drunk driving accident, it is vital that you act quickly. In Arizona, the Statute of Limitations in these cases is only two years. In other words, if you fail to file your claim within two years of the date of the accident, you may forfeit any legal recourse to recover for the damages you have sustained.
Call us at Showard Law Firm today for a free consultation
If you have been injured in an accident with an intoxicated driver and you believe you may have grounds for a drunk driving accident lawsuit in Tucson, call Showard Law Firm today. We are available 24/7, and all consultations are free. We work on a contingency fee basis—so there are no upfront costs for you.