A drunk driver can increase the chances of a crash. If you get in a wreck with an impaired driver, you could pursue compensation from them for causing the collision and injuring you.
Our vehicle collision attorneys at Thurswell Law could help bring a legal claim against an impaired driver rather than letting drunk driving car accidents in Southfield take more away from injured people. By listening to your case and investigating the circumstances of your accident, we could fight for the compensation you deserve.
How Can Drinking and Driving Cause a Serious Accident?
With increased public efforts to reduce drunk driving, the idea of drinking alcohol before or while driving a car has become taboo. The reason has to do with the elevated risk of a collision when a driver chooses to drink.
A drunk driver could have reduced reaction time and may not be able to avoid a potential crash. If another vehicle changes lanes or stops unexpectedly, an impaired driver might not process that they will make contact and fail to change direction or slow down. A drunk driver could also fall asleep at the wheel and drift into oncoming traffic or hit another car, an obstacle, or even a pedestrian.
The reduced ability to focus, react, and physically control a car increases the likelihood that a drunk driver could cause an accident and even be prosecuted for driving under the influence. If an impaired driver does cause a car crash that hurts another person in Southfield, attorneys could pursue an injury claim to hold that driver accountable.
Classifying Injuries As Damages and Making a Claim
An injury by itself does not translate to compensation directly. Instead, the law recognizes certain categories of effects, known as damages.
Damages could include the economic costs of injuries, such as medical costs and lost wages, to the less certain effects of injuries, such as pain and suffering and emotional distress. Determining which damages an injured person can claim is an important step in the process of seeking compensation, and an attorney could help estimate what a claim could be worth.
Along with proving damages, evidence must demonstrate that someone both caused an accident and should be held responsible for it. In the case of a drunk driving accident, relevant evidence might include a police report, the driver’s blood alcohol content, and any eyewitness accounts establishing that the impaired driver caused the crash, as opposed to an intervening cause or the victim’s own driving.
Claims related to Southfield drunk driving vehicle accidents also need to be submitted within a certain amount of time, or an injured person could lose their chance for compensation. An injury claim must be filed within three years under Michigan Compiled Laws § 600.5805. It is important to move quickly after an accident to help secure compensation. Working with an attorney shortly after a crash could also preserve evidence, such as an eyewitness’s memory, and help receive compensation before an injured person experiences more financial hardship.
Contact Us To See if You Could File a Drunk Driving Accident Claim in Southfield
Injuries from a car crash could have lingering negative effects for years after the fact. The initial focus after drunk driving car accidents in Southfield should be on recovery, and having attorneys represent your interests could help you do just that.
With a team that knows that experience improves results, Thurswell Law could investigate your accident, build your claim, and file for compensation. We work on a contingent basis, meaning that we do not get paid for our legal fees until you get your compensation. Contact us to see how we can help you today.
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