Anyone who drives while impaired by drugs or alcohol puts everyone on the road at risk of serious injury. Unfortunately, even if a drunk driver was directly responsible for causing your injuries, proving they were drunk and holding them financially liable for your losses can be far from a simple process.
Drunk driving car accidents in Bethlehem can allow for substantial financial recovery, but you’ll likely have difficulty getting the money you deserve without legal representation. Working with a winning car accident lawyer at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers will give you the best chances of establishing fault for your accident and getting paid fairly for your losses.
What Counts as Drunk Driving Under the Law?
There are two ways a driver can be legally considered “under the influence” in Pennsylvania. The more objective way involves determining the driver’s blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, through a breath, blood, or saliva test. Anyone found driving with a BAC of 0.08% or more can be charged with a “per se” DUI. The limit for commercial drivers is 0.04% and 0.02% for underage drivers.
Alternatively, a police officer can cite and possibly arrest someone for drunk driving if they believe they are impaired by alcohol to the degree that they can’t safely operate a motor vehicle. Your Bethlehem attorney can further explain the legal definition of impaired driving and how it may affect your car accident claim.
Proving Another Driver in Bethlehem Was Drunk
If the other person involved in an auto wreck was cited for DUI by the police officer who responded to the accident scene, the formal report on the accident would serve as vital evidence for a civil lawsuit or settlement proposal. Unfortunately, some drunk drivers may not get arrested or cited for DUI at the scene.
In these situations, you and your local attorney must prove that the driver was negligent to recover compensation for the car accident. This may require evidence from various sources, such as:
- Photos of debris around the accident scene
- Receipts from bar or liquor store purchases
- Footage from traffic or dashboard cameras
Your seasoned Bethlehem attorney can play a vital role in finding, preserving, and incorporating this evidence into your DUI accident claim.
Work with a Bethlehem Attorney After a Drunk Driving Car Accident
Drunk driving is one of the most irresponsible things a person can do. Anyone who injured you because they were driving while impaired should pay for every form of harm you suffer from that incident. However, there’s a big difference between knowing a drunk driver is responsible for your accident and proving them liable in court.
If you want a good result from your case, you’ll need help from a knowledgeable attorney like Managing Partner Rich Godshall and the team at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers. We are experienced in winning claims for drunk driving car accidents in Bethlehem. In a recent case, we won a $1,600,000 settlement for the passenger in a crash caused by a DUI driver. She sustained severe low back injuries requiring extensive surgery to repair. Call us today to learn how we will fight tirelessly for you and your best interests.
