Philadelphia Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
Impaired driving is epidemic in the United States. Driving while under the influence of alcohol is one form of impaired driving. Some 40 percent of all vehicle accidents with fatalities involve drivers who were impaired by alcohol. One-third of those convicted of driving under the influence are repeat offenders. Regardless of the severity of newly enacted drunken driving regulations, driving under the influence and driving while intoxicated are commonplace. For this reason, you need an a Philadelphia drunk driving accident attorney on your side in the event of a motor vehicle accident that involved alcohol. If evidence is gathered promptly and accurately, alcohol impairment is easy to prove when compared to driving under the influence of drugs or driving while fatigued.
Drunk drivers can face criminal and civil prosecution for an accident they caused while they were drunk or otherwise impaired. While all types of impaired driving are governed by the same regulations, some of the rules governing drunk driving are exclusive to accidents in which alcohol was a factor.
One of the most important factors in a case that involves alcohol impairment is blood alcohol concentration or BAC. BAC is the percentage of alcohol that is present in your bloodstream. Most jurisdictions have a BAC limit of .08 percent. The limit for drivers under the age of 21 is usually even less than .08. Police use a Breathalyzer to calculate a driver’s BAC. This breath test is not mandatory, but if a driver declines to submit to the test, their license may be suspended immediately, even though the driver’s BAC is not established.
For that reason, you need to look to other evidence to establish intoxication and to collect compensation for your injuries and damage to your vehicle. Frequently, drunk drivers have been arrested for DUI previously and do not have a valid driver’s license. That means the driver is probably not carrying insurance. If the driver ends up sentenced to jail time, they won’t have any income. For those reasons, you may have a hard time receiving the money you’re due from them.
In some cases, the driver isn’t the only responsible party. An experienced Philadelphia drunk driving accident attorney knows that establishments that serve alcohol to an under-aged person or to a person who is already intoxicated can also be held responsible for the impaired driver’s actions under Philadelphia dram shop. That includes nightclubs, local pubs, restaurants and liquor stores. An adult who buys alcohol for a minor can also be held responsible if the minor has an accident after consuming the alcohol that was provided to them.
Car accidents involving drunk drivers can have life-altering consequences. An entire family can be killed or maimed due to the recklessness of one individual. The repercussions can last a lifetime, which is why anybody who has been involved in an auto accident needs to locate an experienced Philadelphia drunk driving accident lawyer to have the best chance of receiving compensation for injuries, for damage to your vehicle and for loss of future income.
You may also be entitled to punitive damages if you are injured by a drunk driver. These are damages intended to punish the driver for his or her reckless behavior and are in addition to the money you receive to compensate for your injuries and economic loss.
To schedule a consultation with one of our experienced Philadelphia personal injury lawyers, contact us online, or give us a call at 800-753-4257.