No matter how much we practice safety on the road, there’s a possibility of getting seriously harmed by irresponsible motorists such as a drunk driver. In California, thousands of people die or get injured each year due to drunk-driving crashes. Each case represents pain and financial burdens for the victim or their family, which is why it’s important for them to claim the compensation they deserve.
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a California drunk-driving accident, entrust your case to a lawyer with successful experience in this field. The attorneys at Zucker Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers, APC are some of the most experienced in the state, winning high-value settlements and verdicts in auto accident cases. We’re ready to provide high-quality legal service to you. Contact Zucker Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers, APC today.
California Among the Worst States with Drinking and Driving
While Californians are no strangers to bad drivers, the dangers of intoxicated drivers in the state cannot be ignored. One analysis of ten years’ worth of data revealed that California ranks second in the nation in terms of total alcohol-related fatalities, second only to Texas. From 2009 to 2018, California had 9,288 drunk-driving deaths. This figure doesn’t include the tens of thousands who sustained serious injuries because of drunk drivers.
Meanwhile, a separate report shows that Riverside County in particular has a high rate of alcohol-impaired driving deaths. About 31 percent of driving fatalities in the county involved alcohol, higher than the California state average which is 28 percent.
These statistics indicate that even though drunk-driving trends have slowly declined in the US, drinking and driving is still a real threat on the road, and numerous individuals and families still suffer the aftermath of drunk-driving crashes.
Pursuing Compensation from a Drunk Driver
Driving under the influence (DUI) is a crime in California, for which the defendant could get penalties like jail time, fines, and license revocation. However, the criminal case will not pay anything to the victim – it is meant only to punish the crime. If you wish to be compensated for your drunk-driving injuries or for your loved one’s death, you’ll need to pursue a civil case outside of the criminal case.
Just like in other car crash cases, the common first course of action for a drunk-driving victim is to file an injury claim with the at-fault driver’s auto insurance. California requires every driver to carry a minimum liability insurance of $15,000 to pay for injuries they cause others.
However, DUI accidents often result in such severe injuries that the damages exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits. In this case, you’ll have to explore other compensation sources such as your own uninsured/underinsured driver insurance. Many claimants also file a personal injury lawsuit or wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party. Most of these lawsuits conclude before trial begins, with both parties agreeing on an acceptable settlement for the claimant.
To know your best legal options to claim compensation, speak with an experienced lawyer. Even if you’re only seeking an insurance settlement, an attorney can protect you from mistakes that could cost you your claim. Having a lawyer also gives you better negotiating power when facing insurers that are experienced in downplaying injury claims.
How Much a Drunk-Driving Claim is Worth
Many people ask, “How much could I get in my DUI injury claim?” The answer is, it depends. There is no true “average” amount of compensation for those harmed by intoxicated drivers. The settlements and verdicts vary widely from tens of thousands to millions of dollars. Each case is assessed according to its many factors such as the severity of injury, the circumstances around the crash, and the non-monetary impact on the victim.
Under California law, you may be able to claim for both economic and non-economic damages. These may include:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation/therapy costs
- Anticipated (future) expenses due to the injury
- Lost income
- Lost or diminished ability to earn
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Mental distress
- Lost enjoyment of life.
If you lost a family member in the DUI accident, a wrongful death claim may provide compensation for losses like:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical costs related to your loved one’s injury
- Lost companionship
- Lost services from the deceased
- Lost guidance to minors
- And more.
In a few cases, the court may also award punitive damages. This is an amount that the drunk-driver has to pay the victim as a form of punishment for the driver’s behavior. Punitive damages are applicable if the at-fault party was extraordinarily reckless or blatantly disregarding the safety of others.
Remember that your personal injury or wrongful death compensation takes into account your monetary and non-monetary damages. With a competent lawyer, you can maximize your claim to cover the true extent of your losses.
At Zucker Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers, APC, we don’t just add up your medical bills and present it to the insurance company. We thoroughly examine the various aspects of your life affected by the accident, including the physical, financial, and psychological. When you work with us, we pour our skill and decades of experience to fight for the full compensation you’re entitled to.
Contact a Temecula Drunk-Driving Accident Attorney
Zucker Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers, APC is trusted in Riverside County and beyond for our top-notch legal service in car accident cases. We have served in this field for over 25 years, obtaining favorable compensation for our clients. Several of our cases resulted in multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts, including a $50 million wrongful death judgment, one of California’s biggest ever.Consult with us for free about your drunk-driving injury or your loved one’s wrongful death. You won’t have to pay us lawyer fees until we obtain compensation for you. Call us today at (951) 699-2100.
