There are probably many people among our San Diego area readers who had quite a good time as the calendar rolled into 2016. New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest party occasions of each year, with people gathering in public and private places around the world to celebrate and watch fireworks as the clock strikes midnight. However, there are also some individuals among the revelers who make the poor decision to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after consuming alcohol at a party. When this happens, there is a significant risk of a drunk driving accident.
Car accidents occur for a wide variety of reasons, and in most cases an injured victim will be able to file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for his or her damages. But, when an accident is caused by a drunk driver, the stakes can be higher for all parties involved. The defendant will likely be facing not only the civil personal injury claim, but also a criminal case. For a plaintiff, the need for quick financial compensation may be great, but there may also be the strategic need to wait for the criminal case to play out so that the ultimate result – if it is a conviction – can be brought up as a strong “trump card” in the civil case.
Drunk drivers cause thousands of car crashes throughout the country ever year. Law enforcement officials do what they can to increase DUI patrols around the holiday season, but they can’t catch every drunk driver. Therefore, filing a personal injury lawsuit may not only allow a victim to recover compensation for his or her damages, but it may also help deter drunk driving and help better protect our community’s drivers.
At our law firm, we understand that people who are injured in a car accident involving a drunk driver will have quite a few questions about how to proceed. Liability will need to be established, and victims will need to keep meticulous records regarding their damages. For more information about how our law firm attempts to help victims in this position, please visit the drunk driving accident overview page of our website.