More than 10,000 people were killed in drunk driving accidents in 2012 across the U.S. – and that figure doesn’t include the thousands more who sustain serious, often catastrophic injuries, reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This equates to one person dying every 51 minutes due to someone deciding to drink and get behind the wheel.
Victims of drunk driving can pursue compensation from the negligent driver who caused the car accident. Ron Meyers & Associates PLLC helps drunk driving victims file a claim or lawsuit so they recover the compensation they need to pay for medical bills, replace lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering. Call us at 844-920-2438 if you were a victim of drunk driving and suffered serious injuries.
Victims of Drunk Driving Accidents Have Rights!
When a victim is killed by a drunk driver, there is a resounding devastation the victim’s family feels for which there are no words. The responsible driver will face criminal charges and may face civil actions – but this does little to ease a family’s heartache.
When victims survive the accident, the injuries can be so severe that their entire quality of life is diminished. Below are some of the injuries victims sustain from serious DUI collisions.
- Skull fractures and brain injuries
- Crushing injuries and fractures
- Facial injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Burns and scarring
- Amputations
As such, victims often will have significant and long-term damages. This might include costs for hospitalization, surgery and medication, as well as long-term care and physical therapy in some cases. Victims also might miss work, losing out on wages and may suffer noneconomic damages.
Fortunately, Washington law allows victims to take legal action so they can recover compensation.
Legal Action for Drunk Driving Victims
Drunk drivers face criminal penalties that include jail time, fines, interlock ignition device installation, and driver’s license suspension and revocation. But even if a drunk driver is not convicted, he or she still may be liable in a civil action filed by the victim of the accident or the victim’s family.
The civil action can allow victims and their families to recover noneconomic damages that might include pain and suffering, loss of consortium, loss of parental guidance, loss of support, and more. An attorney can help victims and/or their families recover compensation to which they are entitled.
This requires proving that the driver was impaired and caused the accident. While a conviction for drunk driving in a criminal case can help establish liability in a civil action, lack of a conviction does not automatically negate a civil case. The standard to prove liability is lower than the standard to prove guilt, so even if a judge or jury found a defendant not guilty or the charges were dismissed, the defendant still may be liable if evidence proves liability in a civil action.
Claimants or plaintiffs may use results from breath, blood or urine tests to prove impairment, as well as eyewitness testimony, police reports, video surveillance and more to establish fault for the accident. Documentation of damages is also required to prove the damages to which the victim or family is entitled.
Call Ron Meyers & Associates for Help Filing a Claim against a Drunk Driver
For legal help, you are welcome to contact our office at 844-920-2438. The staff at Ron Meyers & Associates PLLC will answer any questions you may have and help determine your legal options for holding the driver responsible for his or her actions.
