Drunk Driving Accidents Attorney

New York Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys

“Can I Sue a Drunk Driver Who Hit Me?”

If you suffered an injury or the loss of a loved one in a drunk driving accident, you can pursue financial compensation through a lawsuit or insurance claim. Driving under the influence is unlawful, but the U.S. court system doesn’t always provide justice for DWI accident victims. That’s why the New York City car accident lawyers at our firm are dedicated to innocent drivers fighting for the money they deserve after serious injury or loss. With more than 50 years of combined experience, our team is ready to help your case.

DWI Statistics in New York City

According to the New York State Police, drunk drivers cause over 17,000 deaths each year. This means that drunk driving is responsible for 30% of all vehicle fatalities. Another troubling statistic is that over 5,000 people under the age of 21 were arrested for DWI last year. Drivers aged 21 and under account for only 5% of all licensed drivers in the state. However, drivers aged 21 are involved in 14% of all fatal crashes. At Greenberg & Stein, P.C., we believe that drunk driving accidents are always preventable. This means that victims of DWI accidents should not carry the financial burden of the costs associated with their injuries.

Although many drunk drivers are arrested and convicted of DWI, a criminal conviction doesn’t always involve financial restitution for the injured party. With the help of a New York City car accident attorney, you may be able to recover damages.

BAC Test May Benefit Your Case

Driving under the influence of alcohol, as you may be aware, is illegal. The concentration of alcohol in a person’s blood, however, determines whether or not they are drunk. To determine the concentration of alcohol in a driver’s blood, police officers typically use a breathalyzer. Driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher is illegal in the United States. In a drunk driving accident, you must prove that the other party was negligent in some way. If the driver who caused the accident was arrested for having a BAC equal or higher to 0.08% it could be easier to receive compensation for your injuries because that driver deliberately violated a law.

Serious Injuries After an Accident Caused by a Drunk Driver

Driving under the influence significantly increases the probabilities of causing a car accident. While some drivers may not end up seriously injured after an accident, vehicle crashes can cause severe injuries or even death. These are some severe injuries that can be caused by drunk driving:

• Fractures
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Spinal cord damage
• Paralysis
• Soft tissue damage
• Burn injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Nerve damage
• Loss of a limb
• Wrongful death

Types of Damages an Injured Victim Can Claim After Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk driving accidents victims can sustain injuries that can cause very costly medical expenses. Aside from that, they may lose money in other forms such as lost income, property damage and other out-of-pocket expenses. In New York, most vehicle crash victims can recover compensation for their economic damages.

• Medical expenses 
• Lost wages
• Property damage 
• Therapy
• Transportation costs
• Other out-of-pocket expenses

Nonetheless, there are also other noneconomic damages that are not recoverable unless the victim suffered a serious injury. According to the law of the state of New York, these injuries are classified as “serious”:

• Broken bones
• Loss of a fetus
• Significant disfigurement 
• Limitations on the use of a bodily organ or member that are permanent or significant
• Permanent impairment of a vital bodily function, system, or member
• Death

With the help of an experienced drunk driving accident attorney, you can seek compensation for noneconomic damages after proving that your injuries are severe. To prove that you suffered a serious injury, you will need to build a solid evidence based case. Here are some noneconomic damages that you can recover: 

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish 
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Reduced quality of life

It is also possible to recover compensation for punitive damages. Punitive damages are used to punish the party who was at-fault for the accident because they are not used to pay for any loss that the plaintiff suffered. Punitive damages are rarely awarded because they are used to condemn certain behaviors that are considered completely inappropriate. However, driving drunk is one of these behaviors that the authorities want to eliminate. This damage is not usually paid by insurance companies. 

Should You Get an Attorney If You Were Injured by a Drunk Driver?

When you work with Greenberg & Stein, you can have peace of mind knowing that your case is in good hands. Over the years, we have recovered settlements worth over one million dollars for car accident victims, including a multi-million dollar settlement for an automobile accident victim. Today, we are ready to use this experience to help your case. Call our office today for more information and to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation with one of our New York City personal injury attorneys.

Our Team is Uniquely Qualified to Represent Your DWI Case

Learn More About Drunk Driving Accidents

All You Need to Know When You Get Hit by a Drunk Driver in New York
6 Things to Prove I Was Hit by a Drunk Driver
Does Car Insurance Cover Drunk Driving Accidents in New York
Can You Sue a Drunk Driver With No Insurance?
Punitive Damages After Drunk Driving Accidents