Drinking even a little alcohol can affect your reaction time and overall awareness. Accordingly, Pennsylvania makes driving under the influence (DUI) a serious criminal offense. If you were recently in an auto accident caused by a drunk driver, that driver likely holds civil fault for any injuries and losses you suffered.
However, getting paid fairly after drunk driving car accidents in Norristown can be much harder in practice. Working with a winning car accident lawyer on your claim will be vital to getting the compensation you deserve for the harm you should’ve never experienced. Let Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers fight tirelessly for your best interests.
Proving Liability for Drunk Driving
Since drunk driving is against Pennsylvania law, it’s a textbook example of a “breach” of a driver’s duty. Every driver in the Commonwealth has a duty to act responsibly and lawfully behind the wheel. Proving that such a breach was the direct cause of an accident is the main idea behind personal injury claims. If you and your Norristown lawyer can prove that someone else involved in a wreck was intoxicated at the time, you’ll have a strong case to demand compensation from them for your accident-related losses.
Sometimes, establishing liability is as simple as getting ahold of the police report filed by the officer who responded to the accident scene. If this report includes a citation for DUI, your attorney can use that citation as compelling evidence of the other driver’s negligence.
In other situations, you may need to work with your Norristown attorney to gather evidence from the crash and prove that the other driver was intoxicated. This could include receipts from bars or liquor stores, surveillance or dashboard camera footage, witness testimony, and more. Assistance from our skilled legal team can be vital to collecting and preserving all the evidence you’ll need to get paid what you deserve for your damages.
Recovering Compensation from a Drunk Driver
Your lawyer can help demand compensation for both economic and non-economic losses you can trace directly back to a drunk driving car accident in Norristown, including:
- Physical pain and discomfort
- All past and future medical bills for accident-related injuries
- Emotional and psychological suffering
- Lost work wages or working ability
- Loss of life’s pleasures
- Vehicle damage and other personal property loss
Furthermore, courts may see drunk driving as acting with “reckless indifference” to others’ wellbeing and order the drunk driver to pay additional “punitive damages.” The seasoned Norristown attorneys at our firm can help determine if these damages may be available in a DUI car accident case.
Talk to a Norristown Attorney About a Drunk Driving Car Accident Claim
Drunk drivers put everyone on the road at risk; when they cause accidents, they should be held accountable for their actions. In these situations, you have the right to seek compensation for the losses you suffered due to a drunk driver’s negligence.
Reach out to an attorney experienced in handling drunk driving car accidents in Norristown. The respected legal team at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers is here to support you throughout your recovery and pursue the best possible result from your claim. In one case, we won $3.5 million for a child who was hit by a drunk driver while riding her bike. Call us today for a free consultation about your situation.
