Drunk Driving Accident
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Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Shelby, NC

Were you severely injured in a collision with a drunk driver? Was your loved one killed in a tragic accident involving someone who was under the influence of alcohol? If so, you might be entitled to significant compensation.

In North Carolina alone, drunk drivers cause over 11,000 accidents annually, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These wrecks kill nearly 400 people and injure thousands of others each year.

Drivers who choose to drive drunk should be held responsible for the devastating and fatal injuries they cause, and Teddy, Meekins & Talbert is here to help. Our North Carolina DUI accident attorneys understand how devastating drunk driving accidents are, and we are dedicated to helping injured victims and their families fight for their legal rights. As demonstrated by our glowing client testimonials, you can trust that our compassionate and skilled legal team has your best interests in mind.

At Teddy, Meekins & Talbert, we are committed to using our legal skills and resources to pursue the best possible outcome for your case, while also providing you with the respect and personalized attention you deserve. Our legal team is here to give you the support you need to get on the road to recovery. We’ll listen to your personal story, explain your legal options, answer your questions, and aggressively fight for the justice and the full compensation you’re owed.

Don’t wait to stand up for your rights after a devastating DUI accident. To get started, call Teddy, Meekins & Talbert right away to set up your free legal consultation. Contact us today by phone or reach us online.

DUI Accident Victims Injuries

Some of the most common injuries that victims of DUI accidents suffer include:

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Whiplash
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Concussions
  • Vision or hearing loss
  • Paralysis
  • Scrapes, lacerations, and cuts
  • Knee, ankle, hip, shoulder, and other joint injuries
  • Ruptured discs and other back injuries
  • Broken legs, arms, pelvis, ribs, and other bones
  • Nerve damage
  • Bruising
  • Chronic pain
  • Neck and spine injuries
  • Cardiac contusions and other organ damage
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Internal bleeding
  • Burns
  • Disfigurement
  • Amputation

DUI Accident Victims Legal Rights

Whenever someone causes a DUI accident, they typically face criminal charges for breaking the law by driving drunk. They will likely face serious penalties if the court finds that the driver had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 or more, was under 21 at the time of the accident and had any alcohol in their system, or were a repeat DUI offender, or commercial driver with a BAC of at least 0.04.

The negligent driver’s punishment might involve fines, jail time, driving limitations, or license suspension. Nonetheless, even if the court convicts the negligent driver, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll have to compensate people injured in the accident. By the same token, even if a drunk driver is acquitted or never charged, they could still be held liable in civil court. The criminal and civil matters are completely separate.

One option is to file a claim directly with the negligent party’s insurer. It’s critical to remember that insurance companies don’t have victims’ best interests in mind, and they have an incentive to pay victims as little money as possible.

If you work with a knowledgeable DUI accident victim attorney, they can negotiate with insurance on your behalf to pursue the maximum compensation you’re owed. Even if insurance refuses to agree to a fair settlement, victims still have other legal options.

Injured parties have a right to file a civil lawsuit against the drunk driver who caused their accident, even if the person didn’t face criminal charges for their actions. To win a DUI accident suit, victims must prove:

  • The at-fault party had a responsibility to protect the victim in some way, such as by driving carefully.
  • The other driver failed to meet that duty of care by doing something negligent like driving drunk.
  • The driver’s negligent or wrongful actions caused the victim’s accident.
  • The victim suffered damages because of the accident.

Victims can also bring actions against any other parties that might hold responsible for the accident. Beyond the drunk driver, some other entities that could be liable may include:

  • The driver’s employer if the driver was performing a work function at the time
  • The restaurant or bar that overserved the drunk driver
  • The vehicle’s manufacturer if a mechanical fault contributed to the accident
  • A municipality or government entity if a hazardous road condition partially caused the wreck
  • Another third party

The best way to prove an individual or party’s negligence and liability for your accident involve gathering a range of evidence, such as for example:

  • The drunk driver’s blood alcohol test results
  • A copy of the official accident report
  • Your medical records related to the accident
  • Photographs of your injuries and property damage
  • Videos and pictures of the accident scene
  • Eyewitness statements
  • Testimony from expert witnesses, such as reconstruction specialists and medical consultants

What Can You Recover in a Drunk Driving Accident Claim?

Victims of drunk driving accidents often recover both economic and non-economic compensation. The exact level of damages that a victim can receive depends on the circumstances of the wreck, as well as the severity of their injuries and sometimes, the level of insurance policy that the negligent party has.

In North Carolina, drivers must have insurance that covers at least:

  • $30,000 for each person’s death or injury
  • $60,000 for each accident
  • $25,000 in property damages

When a negligent driver causes a DUI accident, the people they injure may be able to recover compensation for losses such as:

  • Emotional distress
  • Current and future medical expenses, including ambulance transportation, hospitalization, wheelchairs or other specialized equipment, medical devices, surgeries, prescriptions, diagnostic tests, treatments, and specialist visits
  • Mental anguish
  • Expenses for replacing or repairing damaged property
  • Wages lost during recovery and lost the ability to earn comparable income in the future
  • Pain and suffering
  • Long-term care, rehabilitation, and therapies
  • Costs for services to replace household tasks the victim can no longer perform because of your injuries, such as yard work, childcare, and repairs
  • Disability accommodations to the victim’s vehicle or house
  • Lost ability to participate in enjoyable activities like sports and hobbies
  • Disfigurement
  • Punitive damages if the liable party caused the accident by blatantly disregarding the victim’s safety or by doing something that was willful or malicious

Additionally, if a drunk driving accident kills a victim, then their surviving family might be eligible to recover compensation to help cover some of the damages caused by this tragic accident, such as:

  • Loss of the deceased’s income
  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost companionship, consortium, and parental support

North Carolina’s contributory negligence rule might limit a victim’s right to compensation for their injuries. The state has one of the strictest rules on negligence in the entire country. Under this rule, victims typically can’t recover any amount of compensation if they are even the least bit at fault for the accident.

This is why it’s critical to work with an experienced DUI accident victim lawyer who can help protect your rights. If you speak with an insurer on your own, they might trick you into saying something they can use to claim that you were partially to blame for the accident. However, your attorney can speak with insurance on your behalf, so you don’t have to risk mistakenly saying something insurance can twist and use against you.

Furthermore, a skilled drunk driving accident lawyer can help you complete all the paperwork needed for your lawsuit and help make sure it’s filed on time. Under North Carolina’s statute of limitations, victims usually have only three years from the date of their accident to file a personal injury claim. If you miss this deadline, you might not be able to recover any type of compensation – no matter if someone else was completely to blame for your injuries.

Contact Our Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

If you suffered injuries caused by a North Carolina DUI accident, Teddy, Meekins & Talbert is here to help you get on the road to recovery. Contact us today by phone or online to schedule your free case evaluation and get the legal help you need.

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