Every day, approximately 30 people die from drunk driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Even though the number of drunk driving-related fatalities has decreased over the last 30 years, drunk driving still results in more than 10,000 deaths every year.
If you or a loved one has been harmed in a drunk driving accident, a Detroit drunk driving accident lawyer from Ben Crump Law, PLLC can review the circumstances surrounding your accident and help you pursue compensation. Call us today at (844) 730-0233 to learn more.
Why Drunk Driving Is so Dangerous
Depending on the amount of alcohol you consume and your blood alcohol concentration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that drinking can have the following effects on people:
- A decline in the ability to see
- A decline in the ability to perform multiple tasks at the same time
- Reduced coordination
- Difficulty tracking a moving object
- Reduced response time to emergencies
- Difficulty steering
- Difficulty concentrating
- Short-term memory loss
- Reduced ability to process information, such as what traffic signals mean
- Difficulty controlling speed
- Slowed thinking
- Reduced ability to stay in the same lane
- Reduced ability to brake properly
- Reduced ability to process visual and auditory information
- Reduced ability to control a vehicle
Drinking alcohol can impair basically every aspect and function of driving, placing others on the roadway at unnecessary risk.
While some people think that they can have one or two drinks, statistics show otherwise; 57 percent of fatally injured drivers had alcohol or drugs in their system, according to the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
For a free legal consultation with a drunk driving accidents lawyer serving Detroit, call (844) 730-0233
Michigan Laws on Drunk Driving
Under Michigan law, it is illegal to operate a vehicle while visibly impaired or while intoxicated. Visibly impaired means that a person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle was visibly impaired because of consumption of alcohol, a controlled substance, or another intoxicating substance. Operating while intoxicated means that a person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle safely is substantially affected because of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicating substance, or that the person has a blood alcohol content at or above 0.08.
Drunk driving can lead to many consequences to the defendant including:
- Jail time
- Loss of driving privileges
- The requirement to participate in a rehab program
- Fines
Additionally, this charge can subject the defendant to civil liability.
Dram Shop Law
Michigan’s Liquor Control Code §436.1801 allows a personal injury victim to bring a legal claim against a bar, liquor store, or another retail establishment for damages the victim suffered in a drunk driving accident that was furnished to the defendant who was under 21 years old or “visibly intoxicated” who caused the accident.
This law allows you to name the establishment also as a defendant in a case so that you can potentially collect compensation from it, rather than only being limited to collect compensation from the drunk driver.
Detroit Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
Potential Damages in a Drunk Driving Case
Drunk driving accidents can result in fatalities or serious injuries because the accident may occur at higher speeds. It may be unexpected, or it may be a hit-and-run situation in which the victim’s medical treatment is delayed. Accident victims may be able to recover compensation for the damages they suffered including:
Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages are meant to compensate a victim for the damages they suffered, including damages that can be traced back to economic loss, such as:
- Costs to repair or replace your vehicle
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
If the drunk driving accident caused the death of your loved one, these damages may include reasonable medical, burial, and funeral expenses.
Compensatory damages also include non-economic damages that are not as easy to quantify, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of society
- Loss of companionship
Punitive Damages
Although punitive damages are rare, one of the types of cases in which a court may award them is a drunk driving case. These damages are intended to punish the defendant for particularly egregious behavior.
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Helping You Establish Liability in a Drunk Driving Collision
A Detroit drunk driving accident lawyer can gather evidence to help establish that your car accident was due to drunk driving, such as:
- The accident report and officer’s findings of impairment
- Photos of the accident scene
- Videos from traffic cameras or establishments where the driver was drinking
- Blood or breath tests showing a BAC over the legal limit
- Witness statements
- Field sobriety tests
- A criminal conviction for drunk driving
- Driver’s own statements
Our team can also gather evidence if a retail establishment is brought into the case due to the dram shop law. Reach out to Ben Crump Law, PLLC to learn more about building your case and establishing liability.
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Hire Our Detroit Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Today
If you have been hurt in a drunk driving accident, it is not right that you suffer after being harmed in an accident that was no fault of your own.
The legal team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC is here to help you through every aspect of your claim, from the initial filing of your claim to the negotiation of a fair settlement that factors in the full extent of your injuries. We will investigate the circumstances surrounding your claim and work hard to prove that the other driver was impaired at the time of the accident. We can also handle communication with the insurance company so you can focus on your recovery.
Our law firm works on a contingency fee, so you are not charged any attorney fees unless we secure compensation on your behalf. Contact us today at (844) 730-0233 to get started.
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