How dangerous is a drunk driving accident? As an injury victim, can a Bridgeport accident lawyer help you get maximum damages for your injuries? Find out here.
From birth injuries to nursing home abuse, bite injury claims, etc., Bridgeport personal injury attorneys attend to numerous compensation claims. However, only a few may be as common and damaging as motor vehicle accidents. Auto accidents are usually severe, resulting in catastrophic injuries and deaths. Many of such devastating motor vehicle accidents involve a drunk driver.
In Connecticut, drunk driving is a serious offense that carries steep penalties including jail time. Unfortunately, the effects are more damaging for innocent injury victims, especially in a fatal accident. According to NHTSA, 28 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes every day. A significant number of those fatalities are accident victims who did no wrong.
Drunk driving will typically lead to drowsy driving and distracted driving. If you're lucky enough to survive such accidents, you can get compensation for your injuries via personal injury claims. This article will show you why an experienced car accident lawyer increases your chances of maximum compensation.
Common Injuries in Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk driving accident victims will usually suffer the following injuries:
- Broken Bones
Broken bones or fractures occur when contact with a heavy object breaks or crushes the bones. Fractures are excruciatingly painful and may result in swelling, immobility, discolored skin, etc. In extreme cases, broken bones lead to bone death.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries/Brain Damage
When a drunk driver hits you, the force is usually extreme because they may be too impaired to attempt halting. During such a collision, you may hit your head against an object that injures your brain. Such injuries can hinder your brain functioning and result in loss of consciousness.
- Spinal Cord Injuries/Damage
Spinal damage from drunk driving accidents can result in permanent disability. The adult spinal nerve cells don't heal after damage. In the best cases, spinal damage patients may regain some functioning after a long while. Common symptoms of spinal damage include difficult breathing, loss of bladder control, severe pains, etc.
- Back and Neck Injuries
Impaired driving accidents can cause injuries to your back and neck. One of the most common neck injuries from car accidents is whiplash. You may also get a pinched nerve, stiff muscles, herniated disc, etc from your accident. Common symptoms of back and neck injuries include headaches, back pain, fever, muscle spasms in your neck, etc.
Who Is Liable for My Accident Injury?
When it comes to auto crash claims, you must identify the liable party in your case. If you don't, you wouldn't be able to claim damages for your injuries. Usually, intoxicated drivers are liable for injuries in a drunk driving accident.
To establish their liability, the following negligence elements must be present in your case:
- Duty of Care
This means that the law imposed a duty on the impaired driver to keep you away from harm on the highway. All motorists have this legal responsibility towards one another.
- Breach of Duty of Care
Breach of duty of care refers to an action from the defendant that caused your injuries. In drunk driving cases, this breach of duty is established upon proof that the driver drove while intoxicated.
- Proof of Damages or Injuries
You must prove what you suffered as a result of the accident. It could be a catastrophic injury, property damage, emotional pain, etc.
- Causation
The injuries above must be a result of the crash.
Will I Get Fair Compensation in My Personal Injury Claims?
You can get compensation for your injuries in a drunk driving accident. The following types of damages are typically available for eligible accident victims in a personal injury claim or lawsuit:
- Economic Damages
Economic damages are the first category of personal injury compensation benefits in Connecticut. These damages refer to compensation for the financial losses you incurred due to the accident. For example, economic damages typically cover medical expenses.
These are reimbursements for the monetary losses you suffered due to medical bills. Other examples of economic damages include lost wages and the cost of property repairs. If a personal injury case becomes a wrongful death claim, economic damages will include funeral expenses.
- Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are compensation for intangible losses. These losses are not monetary. However, they adversely affect the accident victims' lives. Examples of such damages include emotional pain, loss of quality of life, loss of consortium, etc.
- Punitive Damages
Punitive damages in drunk driving accident lawsuits aim to punish the impaired driver for their negligent driving. It also warns future drivers against engaging in drunk driving.
Why Do I Need a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Bridgeport?
As an injured party in a Bridgeport drunk driving accident, you need experienced personal injury lawyers for the following reasons:
- Negotiations With Insurance Companies
Settling a claim with insurance adjusters requires advanced negotiation skills that only an auto accident attorney possesses. Without such extensive experience and skill, you may end up with little or no compensation benefits. A competent accident attorney will typically have decades of experience in negotiating settlement claims. You can count on them to predict the insurance adjuster's tricks and beat them at their own game.
- Compliance With Time Limits and Other Regulations
As a non-lawyer, you'll have limited knowledge of the rules and regulations that guide personal injury claims. As such, it's easy for you to run foul of them. However, personal injury attorneys know these laws by heart. They'll work within stipulated time limits and ensure that you're on the good side of the law.
- Cost-Effective Legal Process
Apart from the physical pain and emotional distress, drunk driving accidents can make you incur heavy financial burdens. As such, you may not have enough funds to pursue your claims. In such cases, you can approach a personal injury law firm and offer professional fees on a contingency fee basis.
That way, you can pursue your claims free of charge. You'll only get to pay your attorney's fees if they win your case. You wouldn't get such a deal if you work without a lawyer.
- Access to Legal Resources
Lawyers have access to specific legal resources that can help your case. On your own, you wouldn't be able to leverage them.
- Evidence Gathering
An attorney knows the essential pieces of evidence to prove your case. They can carry out investigations to fetch them. For example, your lawyers can use available materials like a police report to support your claims. They can also help to prove that the defendants were in possession of illegal drugs that got them intoxicated as they drove.
- Aggressive Advocacy in a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Competent personal injury lawyers also make experienced trial lawyers when the occasion calls for it. They'll aggressively argue your case in court and ensure that you get favorable outcomes from the judgments.
Do You Want to File a Drunk Driving Accident Claim? Schedule a Consultation With Injury Attorneys Now!
Are you an auto accident injury victim in Bridgeport, Connecticut? Then the chances are that a negligent driver caused your crash. Car collisions, especially drunk or distracted driving accidents, are due to human error and reckless driving. The negligent parties must pay for your physical pain and property damages, and emotional trauma.
At Jacobs & Wallace, our car accident lawyers are experts in aggressive advocacy. With our extensive experience in personal injury law, we assure you of the best results when we handle your claims. We believe that you deserve maximum compensation for your injuries. As such, we'll stop at nothing to ensure that you don't get any less.
We've won millions of dollars in compensation benefits for our past personal injury clients. We're ready to do the same for you in your challenging time. Call our office immediately to book a free case review.
