Drunk drivers are a major problem in West Virginia and across the country. They are at a much greater risk of causing an accident than the average motorist, and the injuries resulting from these accidents can be devastating.
If you were hurt in a drunk driving accident in West Virginia, you have legal options to recover the harm you experienced. Filing a civil suit could provide you with the compensation you deserve, so let a car accident injury attorney review the facts of your crash and answer any questions you have about your rights.
Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal in West Virginia, and it can lead to a criminal conviction. When impaired motorists cause an accident, he or she can also face civil liability for the damage they cause.
It is unlawful to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or greater. A person’s BAC can be measured by testing their blood, breath, or urine, and these results are often powerful evidence in civil and criminal trials.
Alcohol impacts a motorist in dangerous ways. It can impede his or her decision-making ability, causing them to take risks they would ordinarily avoid. Intoxication also slows down an individual’s response time, making it hard for them to respond to changing road conditions or maneuver around hazards.
Any collision between two or more vehicles has the potential to cause catastrophic damage, but accidents with drunk drivers face a greater chance of leading to serious injuries. Impairment can cause drivers to crash into other vehicles at much higher rates of speed, like in situations where a person falls asleep behind the wheel or does not notice the red light in front of them. Diminished reaction time not only leads to preventable accidents but it makes the impact of a crash much worse.
An individual hurt in a West Virginia drunk driving crash could be entitled to different forms of monetary compensation. In addition to non-economic damages for intangible losses like psychological trauma or loss of enjoyment of life, plaintiffs may be awarded economic damages for losses that can be calculated using actual expenses.
For many people hurt in car accidents with intoxicated motorists, his or her primary concern is paying for medical care. Receiving this treatment is vital, but the sudden and unexpected medical debt that comes with it can quickly overwhelm a family’s budget. When injury cases are successful, they can recoup the cost of treatment.
One of the unfortunate and unexpected side effects of being injured in an accident can be the inability to work and earn an income, even temporarily. Some people are out of work for months or years after a crash, and this can have a detrimental effect on their family life. Recouping lost wages is often an important part of a Personal Injury lawsuit.
In addition to bodily injuries, it is also possible to reach a settlement based on damage to personal property. These claims frequently cover the cost of repairing or replacing a damaged vehicle but may also apply to personal items that are valuable or have significant personal value.
No one should have to face the uncertainty of dealing with a serious injury alone. If you were hurt in a drunk driving accident in West Virginia, now is the right time to seek guidance from an attorney like Jan Dils. Contact us as soon as possible for a free consultation and learn what you need to do to recover monetary compensation.
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Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law
