Injured by a Drunk Driver Over the Holidays? We Can Help

During the holiday season, there are many opportunities to enjoy social occasions that involve alcohol. Between holiday work parties, family gatherings, and other holidays, many people enjoy more alcohol than they usually do each holiday season. Unfortunately, every holiday season, we have seen an uptick in drunk driving accidents. Although many companies are becoming more proactive in preventing employees from drinking and driving by covering rideshare expenses or adopting a zero-tolerance policy for those leaving holiday parties, drunk driving accidents continue to increase during the holidays. A drunk driver can cause an innocent victim serious injuries or death in seconds.

If you are one of the victims who a drunk driver has injured during the holidays, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries. Drunk driving accidents are especially devastating when they involve families and children trying to enjoy holiday events but are injured by a negligent, drunk driver. The steps you take after the car accident can help or hurt your chances of recovering the compensation you deserve. In North Carolina, it is legal to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Drunk drivers can face criminal charges that could result in jail time, fines, and a permanent criminal record. In addition to criminal charges, victims injured by drunk driving can pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the drunk driver for compensation in civil court.

If you or your loved one have been seriously injured in a drunk driving incident, no financial compensation can compensate for the ordeal you have experienced. However, a settlement or jury verdict can provide you with the financial resources you need to cover your medical expenses, lost income, and other losses. Being seriously injured in an accident can be a massive financial setback, especially if you cannot work because of your injuries. By pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, you can fight for the following types of damages:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Rehab rehabilitate
• Lost current and future income
• Pain and suffering
• Disability and disfigurement
• Mental anguish
• Property damage

Unfortunately, drunk drivers cause the deaths of innocent victims every year in North Carolina. If you have lost your loved one in a drunk driving accident, we empathize with your situation, and we understand that nothing you can do can bring your loved one back. However, the financial difficulties faced by families who have lost loved ones can be significant. By pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit in a North Carolina civil court, you can seek the compensation your family needs for funeral and burial expenses, loss of companionship, loss of financial support, and more. Wrongful death lawsuits also allow victims to hold drunk drivers accountable for their loved one's death.

Pursuing a personal injury lawsuit may be the last thing on your mind if you have been seriously injured in a car accident. However, time is of the essence when it comes to recovering the compensation you deserve. The insurance company may try to offer you a settlement that is far too low, hoping that you will take it and they can close the case. An attorney can investigate your case, speak to medical and financial experts, and determine the total and fair compensation your case is worth.

After determining your case’s value, your attorney can negotiate aggressively with the insurance company. Additionally, your attorney will be able to determine which party or parties are at fault for your injuries. For example, a better strategy could be to bring a lawsuit against the restaurant or bar that over-served the drunk driver alcohol and violated North Carolina's dram shop laws.

The attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, have many years of experience fighting for our clients injured in auto accidents caused by drunk drivers. If a drunk driver has injured you, you are probably facing significant financial hardship. We offer potential clients a free case evaluation so they can discuss the details of their case and learn about whether they have a valid claim for compensation.

We are happy to answer any questions and help you understand your legal options. Our attorneys have extensive litigation experience and will fight tirelessly for the total amount of monetary damages to which you are entitled. Contact Arnold & Smith, PLLC, today to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.