Drunk Driving Accidents – Columbia Car Accident Lawyers Discuss Dangers

April 14, 2021

Some of the hardest cases for Columbia car accident lawyers to deal with are drunk driving accidents. A large percentage of these cases involve life-threatening and life-changing injuries. You’ll be lucky to even survive the crash. In these cases, for some reason, the drunk driver usually walks away with a few bumps and bruises. It’s often the innocent victim who suffers the brunt of the accident. Columbia car accident lawyers understand this and will work as hard as they can to get you the compensation you deserve.

The good news is that, if the other driver is convicted of DUI, it can help your case. Your Columbia car accident lawyer will use that as proof that the defendant was negligent. It’s hard to argue that you didn’t breach your duty of care when you got behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or taking drugs.

When People are Drunk or High, They Aren’t Thinking Clearly

The problem with drunk drivers is that they take risks they normally wouldn’t take. They drive too fast or take turns too quickly. They try to pass people when they shouldn’t. They often drive down the road in the wrong direction. From your perspective, you have no idea what’s coming. You shouldn’t have to worry that somebody on the road has been drinking shots or taking drugs. You can do absolutely everything right, but it doesn’t matter. You can’t protect yourself from someone who is behaving recklessly. All your Columbia car accident lawyer can do is try to make the defendant pay. If the defendant is convicted of DUI, it’ll make your lawyer’ all that much easier. It’s hard to convince a jury that the drunk driver wasn’t the person responsible for the crash. That’s because it doesn’t make sense. The natural assumption is that a drunk or high driver is more likely to drive negligently than a sober one.

Intoxicated People Have Slower Reaction Times and Poor Motor Skills

When people drink alcohol or take drugs, their reaction times change. They don’t respond as quickly as they normally would. This means they can’t correct any driving errors they make. Or, if they try to, they end up overcorrecting. When this happens, they end up smashing into innocent victims. It isn’t fair that an innocent person should be hurt or even killed because somebody made an irresponsible decision. Your Columbia car accident lawyer will do whatever they can to make them pay for this mistake. This includes asking the court for punitive damages.

Columbia Car Accident Lawyers Handle Cases Involving Very Serious Injuries

Typically, when Columbia car accident lawyers meet with a drunk driving accident victim the first time, they review their medical records. It’s important to know just how serious your injuries are early on. This way, your attorney knows what kind of money demand to put in your complaint. You may need surgery or physical therapy. You may need multiple surgeries. You shouldn’t be left holding the bag here. The defendant should have to cover the costs of any medical care you need. The same is true for any future medical care you need. Your Columbia car accident lawyers will try to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company. If that isn’t possible, you’ll have no choice but to file suit.

Contact a Seasoned Columbia Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you’ve been the victim of a drunk driving accident, you probably suffered very serious injuries. People don’t walk away from these accidents unscathed. Many end up needing surgery or long-term medical care. The last thing you’ll be in a position to do is to fight with insurance companies. It’s a good idea to call and talk to experienced Columbia car accident lawyers as soon as possible. They’ll shoulder the burden of dealing with the insurance adjuster and the other driver’s attorney.

Oftentimes, in cases involving a drunk driver, the defendant is dealing with a criminal case and your civil case. They’re not going to have the same attorney handling both cases. Your Columbia car accident lawyer will try to get proof early that the other driver was drunk or high at the time of the crash. The only way to get this kind of help is to call and set up your free, initial consultation. We can handle this over the phone or online if need be, Call today and find a date and time that works for you.