Victorville Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers
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Victorville Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Offering Focused Legal Help To Injured Clients
Injured in a drunk driving collision? Let our Victorville drunk driving accident lawyers assist you in navigating the claims process. With Arash Law by your side, you have a dedicated team working to help you seek accountability from negligent parties. Call us at (888) 488-1391 for a free initial consultation.
Driving under the influence is one of the most reckless and dangerous decisions a person can make. Every time an intoxicated driver gets behind the wheel, they put other lives at risk. If a drunk driver causes your injuries, they can be held responsible for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
Our drunk driving accident attorneys in Victorville can evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and advocate for your rights throughout the process. We work to help you pursue compensation for your injuries and losses.
Why Work With Our Victorville Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers
Our drunk driving accident lawyers are committed to helping you seek fair compensation for your physical injuries, emotional distress, and financial losses.
Here are some reasons to consider working with our car accident lawyers at Arash Law:
- Experience in Handling DUI Cases — We can guide you through personal injury law and California’s DUI laws. Our attorneys can help you address the complexities involved in DUI claims.
- Focused Legal Representation — Our lawyers are committed to providing support and advocating for your rights. Our lines are open 24/7 to answer questions, provide updates, and guide you throughout the process.
- Advocate for Your Rights — Our attorneys can help clients file legal claims against potentially liable parties and pursue fair compensation on their behalf based on their injuries and losses.
Call (888) 488-1391 for a free case review. With our no-win, no-fee policy, you won’t have to pay for lawyers’ fees unless we obtain compensation for you. This means you can access legal representation without upfront costs. Our lawyers will discuss this fee arrangement before you sign any agreement.
(No guarantee of outcome. Results displayed were dependent on unique facts of that case, and different facts will bring different results.)
How Our Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys Can Help
Our Victorville drunk driving accident lawyers can take on the legal responsibilities of your case, allowing you to focus on your recovery. We can handle the legal aspects of the process for you, from handling the paperwork to communicating with other parties. Here are just a few of the critical tasks we can manage on your behalf:
- Investigating the accident to help identify who may be at fault.
- Gathering evidence to help establish the drunk driver’s liability and your damages.
- Interviewing witnesses who may corroborate your version of the story.
- Negotiating with insurance companies, steering discussions toward fair compensation.
- Filing a lawsuit to advocate for your rights in court, if necessary.
The drunk driving accident lawyers at our Victorville injury law firm can guide you through every step. Reach out to Arash Law to learn more about how we can help.
How Our Lawyers Establish Negligence In A Drunk Driving Accident
If you are injured in a crash caused by a drunk driver, you may be able to hold them responsible for your damages. Our Victorville drunk driving accident attorneys can help. We help establish negligence by demonstrating the following elements:
- Duty of Care — All drivers have a legal responsibility to drive safely and follow traffic laws. They owe you a duty of care, whether you’re a passenger, pedestrian, driver, or another road user.
- Breach of Duty — Our attorneys can assist you in establishing that the driver breached their duty by driving under the influence, which is a breach of their responsibility to drive safely.
- Causation — We can help you establish that the driver’s intoxication directly led to the accident and your injuries. By presenting evidence like medical records and videos of the crash, we can demonstrate that your injuries would not have occurred if not for the driver’s actions.
- Damages — Finally, we will gather documentation that demonstrates the losses you incurred due to the accident, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
By demonstrating all elements of negligence, you can establish grounds for seeking compensation. Our Victorville car accident lawyers will thoroughly explore every angle, gather evidence from multiple sources, and build a well-supported case to help seek accountability from the parties who may be liable.
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Other Potentially Responsible Parties In A Drunk Driving Case
In a drunk driving accident, the driver isn’t the only one who can be held responsible. While their actions are the main contributing factor, there may be other individuals or entities whose negligence contributed to the accident. Some examples include:
- Parents — If the drunk driver is underage, the parents could be held responsible for allowing their child to drink and drive. In some cases, they may also be found liable for failing to take reasonable steps to prevent their child from driving under the influence.
- Bars and Restaurants — Establishments can be held liable if they serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated minors, who then later drive and cause an accident.
- Social Hosts — Similarly, a host may face legal responsibility if they knowingly provide alcohol to an underage guest and that guest causes damages and injuries while driving under the influence.
Laws regarding liability in DUI cases can be complicated. Our Victorville drunk driving accident lawyers work to help determine all potentially responsible parties. We analyze every detail of your case to explore all possible avenues for compensation.
Damages You May Pursue In A Drunk Driving Accident
In a personal injury claim, the damages you may be able to pursue depend on the losses you sustained. Our drunk driving accident lawyers in Victorville can help you seek compensation for economic and non-economic losses.
Economic Damages
Special or economic damages cover the direct financial impact of the crash, such as:
- Medical Expenses — This covers the costs of emergency care, medications, ongoing treatments, and follow-up appointments, regardless of the severity of injury. Even something seemingly minor, like a sprain, can incur medical expenses, from diagnostic exams to chiropractic care.
- Lost Wages & Reduced Earning Capacity — If your injuries prevent you from returning to work, you may be able to add the income you would have earned during your recovery as part of your claim. This may also include the redress for your lost future earnings if you develop a disability that affects your ability to work in the same or any capacity. An example is if a traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to severely impaired memory and executive functioning skills, which would make it difficult to perform most jobs.
- Repair or Replacement Costs — A claim can also include the resulting expenses related to property damage. For example, a drunk driver crashes into your car, wrecking it and injuring you in the process. You may be able to seek reimbursement for the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle with the help of our Victorville car accident lawyers.
Non-Economic Damages
General or non-economic damages aim to compensate for the intangible effects of injuries, including:
- Physical Pain and Discomfort — This covers the pain and discomfort you experience as a result of the accident. This includes both immediate suffering and long-term effects, such as chronic pain from injuries like whiplash or joint damage.
- Mental and Emotional Distress — Our Victorville drunk driving accident lawyers can help you seek damages for the mental and emotional toll of the accident, such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD. These issues are common in serious injuries, such as the loss of a limb or paralysis, because they can drastically affect a person’s lifestyle, independence, and sense of identity.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life — This refers to compensation for injuries that have reduced your ability to participate in daily activities or hobbies. For example, you sustain a broken leg that has left you with reduced mobility even after it has healed. As a result, you can no longer go on a hike, a pastime you previously loved.
Other Damages
Drunk driving accidents can also lead to other losses for the victim and their family, depending on the circumstances. A couple of examples are:
- Wrongful Death — If the drunk driving accident leads to the death of a loved one, the eligible surviving family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim. This allows them to pursue compensation for funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, and other losses. While no amount of money can bring back a life lost, the compensation they may be able to pursue can help address the losses they’ve incurred due to the accident.
- Punitive Damages — In rare cases, the court may also award exemplary or punitive damages to the victim. Unlike general or special damages, punitive damages are not intended to compensate the victim for their losses. Rather, they serve to punish the at-fault party and to deter others from behaving similarly in the future.
Determining and quantifying damages can be complex, as the impact of every injury is unique. Medical bills, lost income, and car repair costs can be relatively easier to calculate. However, some losses, like pain and suffering, are more subjective and difficult to measure. If we take on your case, our lawyers can help assess your damage and assist you in pursuing fair compensation for the physical, emotional, or financial effects of the accident.
What To Do After An Accident Caused By A Drunk Driver
Being involved in an accident with a drunk driver can be overwhelming, but there are steps you can take to help protect your legal rights, such as:
- Stay calm and prioritize your safety. If possible, move to the side of the road or away from traffic.
- Call 911 and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Wait for the first responders to arrive.
- Cooperate with local authorities at the scene so they can create an accurate police report.
- Exchange information with other parties involved in the accident. If there are witnesses, get their names and contact details as well.
- If you can, take photos and videos of your injuries, property damage, and the surroundings.
- Seek further medical attention. Some injuries can have delayed or non-apparent symptoms.
- Seek legal advice. Our Victorville drunk driving accident lawyers can help you understand your legal rights and options. Call us at (888) 488-1391 for a free case review.
(No guarantee of outcome. Results displayed were dependent on unique facts of that case, and different facts will bring different results.)
The Statute of Limitations For Drunk Driving Accidents
In California and, by extension, Victorville, you generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit for a drunk driving accident. The deadline starts from the date of the accident or the date you discovered your injury. This time limit is known as the statute of limitations, which sets strict timeframes for bringing a case to court. Once it expires, your ability to pursue compensation for your injuries through a lawsuit may be hindered.
While the statute of limitations is strictly implemented, certain exceptions may impact the deadlines for your case. These may include circumstances when:
- The victim is a minor.
- The defendant is out of state.
- Your claim involves a government entity.
- Your injuries were not immediately discovered after the accident.
Two years may seem like plenty of time, but it can go by quickly. Reach out to our Victorville drunk driving accident lawyers to identify the deadline that may apply to your case.
Alcohol-Impaired Driving Accident Statistics
Drunk driving remains a major safety issue on Victorville roads. According to UC Berkeley’s Transportation Injury Mapping System, many traffic accidents involving alcohol occurred in the city in 2022. We further analyzed the available data and found that these crashes resulted in 15 fatalities and 125 injuries.
Statewide, drunk driving contributed to over a thousand deaths in 2022, accounting for about 23% of overall traffic fatalities. Across the country, the National Safety Council reported that 13,524 people lost their lives in alcohol-impaired crashes in the same year. Alarmingly, this figure represents nearly one-third of deaths due to traffic accidents.
These statistics highlight the ongoing threat posed by drunk driving, spanning from local communities to the national stage. If a DUI driver injures you or a loved one, contact our Victorville drunk driving accident lawyers for a free case review.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Is My Drunk Driving Accident Case Worth?
The amount of compensation after getting injured by a drunk driver depends on several factors, such as:
- The severity of injuries.
- Future medical care needs.
- The overall impact of your injury on your life.
- Insurance policy limits.
Estimating the value of your case requires careful analysis of the specifics of your injury, your situation, and all available evidence. Our Victorville personal injury lawyers for drunk driving accident victims have the resources and experience to evaluate your claim thoroughly, prove the extent of your damages, and work towards a fair outcome based on your actual damages.
Can I File A Claim If I Was A Passenger In The Drunk Driver’s Car?
If you’re injured in a crash caused by someone else, you may be able to file a claim for your damages, depending on the circumstances. It doesn’t matter if you were a passenger of the drunk driver who caused the accident. In most cases, you are considered a victim, and you may have legal means to hold the drunk driver and any other parties accountable for your injuries.
If you want to know if you have a valid claim, contact our Victorville drunk driving accident lawyers at (888) 488-1391. We offer free initial consultations.
The Other Party’s Insurance Company Offered Me A Settlement. Should I Take It?
Consider consulting a lawyer before taking any offer or signing any agreement with insurance companies. While it may seem convenient to accept the first offer, doing so without fully understanding the extent of your damages can be risky. You might receive a sum that seems generous at first glance, but it could fall short of covering your treatment costs.
Our Victorville accident attorneys can help protect your interests. We can assess the value of your claim, review the offer, and help you make informed decisions about it. If we receive an offer that’s too low, we can help you negotiate a fair amount that can help cover your damages.
Will My Drunk Driving Accident Case Go To Trial?
Our lawyers strive to resolve your drunk driving accident case without the need for trial. Most personal injury cases, including DUI accidents, can be settled out of court. We aim to help you seek a fair settlement that may save you time, reduce stress, and minimize costs, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
While we aim to resolve your case out of court, a trial may become necessary in certain situations, such as disputes over your claim. We can advocate for your rights, whether through settlement negotiations or litigation.
What If The Drunk Driver Who Caused The Accident Was Uninsured?
If the drunk driver responsible for your damages is uninsured, you may still have options to seek compensation. Check your auto insurance policy to see if you have uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, which steps in to pay for damages caused by uninsured drivers. It can cover bodily injuries up to your liability coverage limits and property damage for up to $3,500, which may only apply if the driver was identified.
However, UM coverage for property damage only applies if the driver is identified. If you’re involved in a hit-and-run accident with a drunk driver, you may need to deal with the complex process of seeking compensation. Still, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re out of options. Reach out to Victorville lawyers who handle hit-and-run cases and drunk driving accidents to learn more about your rights and options for pursuing compensation.
Speak With Our Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers In Victorville
Being injured in a drunk driving accident is incredibly challenging. Along with the physical pain, you may face mounting medical bills, lost wages, and the emotional toll of recovery. Navigating the complicated legal process to seek compensation can also feel overwhelming.
Our Victorville drunk driving accident attorneys for victims will take on the legal responsibilities of your case and provide support throughout the claims process. Arash Law can connect you with doctors, assist you with getting treatment without upfront payment, and even help you seek compensation for your car repair. You can focus on healing while our attorneys work to build a well-supported case.
Call (888) 488-1391, and let’s discuss your next steps in a free initial consultation. Our injury law firm represents drunk driving accident victims in Victorville and nearby locations, including Apple Valley, Adelanto, Hesperia, Helendale, El Mirage, Lucerne Valley, Oak Hills, and Phelan. Our attorneys also handle other personal injury cases, including Uber accidents, slip-and-falls, product liability claims, pedestrian accidents, and truck collisions throughout California.
