Drunk Driving Accidents 

Drunk driving is a societal scourge that never goes away, despite the significant resources devoted to combating it.

Every year, drunk driving accidents cause thousands of serious injuries and deaths in the United States alone. What makes this so frustrating is that drunk driving accidents are preventable. People choose to drink and drive. If no one made that choice, the roads would be much safer.

While you may personally never get behind the wheel while drunk, you can’t stop others from doing so. This means that you could be the victim of a drunk driving accident. When that happens, the Elite Litigation Group at Bachus & Schanker may be able to help.

Contact Us Today To Schedule A Free Consultation.

Steps To Take After A Drunk Driving Accident

The worst thing has happened. You have been seriously injured, or a loved one has been killed by a drunk driver. How can you assert your rights and protect your family’s future after this horrible event?

When you’ve been in a crash, the first thing you should do is call 911 and ask for immediate medical attention from EMTs. Swift medical care may be the difference between life and death.

The police will also come to investigate the accident. Both EMTs and the responding police officer will produce documentation that can help you when you file an insurance claim or start legal proceedings.

Next, you should contact the Elite Litigation Group right away. Personal injury claims are complicated, especially when they involve catastrophic injury or death. The sooner you contact a drunk driving accident lawyer, the sooner they can start collecting evidence to support your claim.

While you can help by gathering evidence from the crash site (assuming your injuries allow it), experienced lawyers have a better understanding of the process and can guide you through what’s next.

Statistics On Drunk Driving Accidents In The United States

In the United States, people get behind the wheel while drunk around 127 million times per year. According to MADD, somebody is injured or killed in a drunk driving accident every 85 seconds. That calculates to approximately 370,000 injuries or deaths per year.

The statistics aren’t all negative, though. As a percentage of total traffic fatalities, drunk driving deaths are much lower today than they were three decades ago. According to the Insurance Information Institute, they represented 41% of all traffic fatalities in 1985. In 2023, that percentage was down to 30%.

Unfortunately, though, the overall number of deaths remains high. There were 12,429 fatalities related to driving while intoxicated that year. In both 2021 and 2022, there were over 13,000.

Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuit Process

When you or a loved one is seriously injured by a drunk driver, you have the right to file a lawsuit against the driver to get compensation for the harm you suffered.

The requirements for filing a lawsuit are different in every state, so you should contact an experienced drunk driving accident law firm to understand your rights.

One important step in this process is gathering evidence to support your claim. You need documentation that proves:

• The other person acted negligently by driving drunk.
• Your injuries were caused by the drunk driver’s negligence.
• Your drunk driving injuries were serious enough to impact you financially.

Once your attorney has gathered and preserved enough evidence, they will file a lawsuit with the appropriate court.

Before a case goes to trial, both sides are required to share the evidence they intend to use. If your evidence is strong enough, the insurance company for the defendant will probably offer you a settlement. You can agree to this settlement and receive compensation without having to go to trial.

Otherwise, lawyers for both sides will present evidence to a jury. The jury will use that evidence to determine who was at fault. If the jury members side with you, they will decide how much to award you.

How The Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers At The Elite Litigation Group Support Clients Nationwide

The Elite Litigation Group is a specialized team of senior attorneys, paralegals, and investigators at Bachus & Schanker who exclusively handle wrongful death cases and cases involving catastrophic injuries. Our mission is to help clients who are facing a crisis recover with as little hardship as possible.

After you contact us, we will promptly take the lead on every aspect of your case. This gives you more time to focus on recovering physically and emotionally from your tragedy.

Types Of Drunk Driving Cases We Handle

The Elite Litigation Group exclusively handles the most difficult drunk driving cases. These typically involve:

• Paralysis
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Dismemberment
• Other catastrophic injuries
• Death

Cases like these can present complications that many legal teams are not familiar with. That’s why an experienced drunk driving accident attorney can give you a large advantage.

The Advantages Of A Dedicated Team

At the Elite Litigation Group, we do more than just litigate your case. Our team may also direct you to doctors and medical facilities that can treat your wounds. Additionally, we can help you connect with outside services that help people in situations like yours.

Furthermore, because we exclusively handle these types of cases, we can more accurately calculate the value of your claim based on the severity of your injuries. This gives us an edge when negotiating settlements.

Working With Victim Advocates

We also work with a group of victim advocates. These professionals traditionally partner with police departments and prosecutors to support crime victims during criminal investigations and court processes.

Contact The Elite Litigation Group For Skilled Guidance Today

Were you seriously injured or was a loved one killed in a drunk driving accident? At the Elite Litigation Group, we fight to protect your future after a tragic event.

Contact Us Today To Schedule A Free Consultation.