Have You Recently been Injured by a Drunk Driver?

With the holidays just behind us, many of us are making goals for the new year. Unfortunately, some people are heading into 2017 dealing with serious injuries from drunk driving accidents. Drunk driving is said to increase substantially during the winter holiday season¹ and, therefore, so do the number of accidents that result from impaired driving. While police around St. Louis may do their best to ramp up enforcement to stop drunk drivers, they can’t catch every single one and crashes do occur because of this dangerous behavior. The following is some important information for anyone who has recently been the victim of a drunk driving accident.

Know Your Rights

As a drunk driving accident victim, you have the same rights as any other victim of someone else’s negligence. When someone acts in a dangerous manner on the road and causes you injury, the law allows you to hold them liable for all of your accident-related losses. Such losses often include:

• Medical bills
• Lost Wages
• Estimated costs of future medical care
• Past and future lost income
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Permanent disability

The amount of loss you suffer will likely depend on the nature and severity of your injuries. An experienced attorney can help you calculate how much you are entitled to.

Criminal Cases are Separate from Civil Claims

In many cases, police will arrest a drunk driver who caused an accident and they will face criminal charges. It is important to know this criminal case will likely do little to compensate you for your losses. Instead, you must initiate an insurance claim or a separate case in civil court. While criminal convictions may help your case, the personal injury claim will be distinct from any criminal proceedings.

Discuss Your Situation with an Experienced St. Louis Drunk Driving Accident Attorney

At Page Law, we have seen firsthand how devastating drunk driving accidents can be for you and your family. We will help you hold drunk drivers liable for your losses, so please call a St. Louis car accident lawyer for free at (314) 322-8515.

1https://www.bactrack.com/blogs/expert-center/35042821-the-most-dangerous-times-on-the-road