Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Nassau County

According to the New York State Police, drunk driving is responsible for over 30 percent of traffic fatalities in the state. Drunk driving accidents also injure someone every two minutes. These collisions are often more destructive than normal auto accidents, as drunk drivers lack inhibition and have more dangerous driving behaviors. Drunk driving accident victims might sustain critical injuries that come with large medical bills and impact their ability to work.

If you have a serious injury from a drunk driving accident, contact the attorneys at The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. Drunk drivers demonstrate exceptionally negligent behavior and can be financially liable for any injuries they have caused. Our drunk driving accident attorneys will pursue the responsible driver to demand your losses in a financial settlement.

Drunk driving is a serious crime, and perpetrators should not be let off the hook for the harm they cause. Our experienced personal injury attorneys will provide the critical legal support you need in your difficult circumstances. Contact us today to speak to a drunk driving accident lawyer serving Nassau County.

Why Choose The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. for Your Accident Claim?

The attorneys at The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. have been representing injury victims for decades, building a reputation as a firm that will not back down. We have successfully negotiated settlements for a wide range of personal injury cases, including drunk driving accidents in Nassau County.

We pride ourselves on our attention to detail and meticulous approach to personal injury claims. Our team will thoroughly investigate your case, obtain evidence, and build a strong narrative that proves the at-fault party’s liability and expresses the full extent of your injuries and losses. We take our responsibility to our clients seriously and promise to do everything in our power to make you whole again.

Importance of Working with a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney

Drunk driving accident claims are different from typical car accident claims because they usually involve the criminal element of impaired driving. However, the driver does not have to be convicted of drunk driving for you to hold them accountable in civil court. That also means that just because the drunk driver was convicted doesn’t automatically make them liable for your losses. A personal injury attorney understands how to secure the necessary evidence proving the drunk driver caused your injuries and losses – and how to hold them responsible.

Also, a personal injury attorney can take a firm stance with insurance companies who might try to deny responsibility or shift blame to you. Insurance companies are notorious for using slippery tactics to wiggle their way out of paying, but an attorney can counter them at every turn to pursue the compensation you deserve.

When you have an injury and are in pain, the last thing you want to deal with is insurance claims and potential lawsuits. A drunk driving attorney from The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. can handle every legal aspect of filing a claim so you can prioritize your health and well-being.

What Are Your Rights After a New York Drunk Driving Accident?

Car crash victims may have the right to pursue financial compensation from impaired drivers for any injuries they cause. In some situations, you may have the right to file an insurance claim after an accident and negotiate with the insurance company for an appropriate settlement amount. If you cannot resolve the insurance claim fairly, you have the right to sue the at-fault driver and take them to court.

In New York, you may also be able to hold an establishment liable for serving alcohol to someone who caused your drunk driving accident if they were a minor or visibly intoxicated. Consult with a personal injury attorney to discuss your rights to seek compensation after an impaired driving accident.

What to Do After a Drunk Driving Accident in Nassau County

The initial aftermath of a drunk driving accident is chaotic, but you need to start building your case early to make it as strong as possible. After contacting the authorities and checking for injuries, you should:

• Document the crash scene. Take photos of the scene and your injuries. You also need to get the contact and insurance information of the other driver. Contact information from any witnesses can be helpful, too.
• Get medical attention. Insurance companies will require documentation of your injuries when you file a claim. The longer you wait to see a doctor, the greater the possibility of payment delays and denials. Insurance companies might argue that your injuries were not actually as severe as claimed because you waited to get medical attention.
• Contact a drunk driving accident attorney. You should not talk to the insurance company without an attorney present as you might say something they can use against you. Instead, let a personal injury attorney serve as the go-between. They can properly present your case and avoid common personal injury pitfalls that could negatively affect your claim.

How to Prove Liability in a Drunk Driving Accident Claim

A successful personal injury claim requires proving the at-fault party’s negligence caused your injuries. In the case of a DUI accident, the victim must show that the at-fault party was driving under the influence and caused their injuries.

There are various pieces of evidence an attorney can rely on to demonstrate someone was driving drunk, the most obvious being breathalyzer and field sobriety test results. Personal injury attorneys can obtain the police accident report and any toxicology reports that could show the at-fault driver was impaired.

Attorneys can also rely on eyewitness testimony that the at-fault driver was drinking previously in the night and displayed erratic behavior. For instance, an attorney could get testimony from a bartender stating they previously served the driver alcohol on the night of the crash. Eyewitnesses to the crash could testify that the driver displayed various behaviors associated with drunk driving, such as irregular lane shifting, speeding, or swerving.

Photo and video recordings are another powerful piece of evidence in drunk driving accident claims. A video from a nearby street camera might show that the driver ran a stop sign or was otherwise not obeying traffic rules. This evidence can be challenging to get on your own, though, making the help of a personal injury attorney critical.

Potential Compensation in Drunk Driving Accident Cases

Injuries from a drunk driving accident can leave you in substantial medical debt and unable to earn a living. Because New York’s auto insurance requires personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, you can first turn to your own insurance company to cover your medical bills and lost wages after the crash.

If you exhaust your PIP coverage or suffer a significant injury as defined under New York law, you can file a claim with the drunk driver’s insurer that can include money for your:

• Medical bills – A drunk driving settlement will cover your emergency medical bills and the cost of any continuing medical expenses, such as prescriptions or rehabilitation. You need to keep proper documentation of medical expenses to recover fair compensation.
• Lost income – You can recover the value of any lost wages or salary, bonuses, commissions, tips, and any other income or work benefits you didn’t earn due to your injuries.
• Reduced earning capacity – If you have to change careers after your injury or can no longer work at full capacity, a settlement can include compensation for your decreased earning ability.
• Pain and suffering – These subjective losses can account for your physical pain, emotional distress, trauma, and lower quality of life.
• Property damage – Your compensation can cover the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle.
• Wrongful death – If your family member died due to a drunk driver, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim to recover any loss of financial support.

In a drunk driving accident, you may also be eligible to recover punitive damages. Courts may award punitive damages to injury victims when the at-fault party displays particularly reckless or malicious behavior. Drunk driving in New York is typically considered a form of gross negligence, meaning that courts might award the injury victim punitive damages to deter future bad behavior and make an example of the offender.

Recovering adequate compensation in a drunk driving case is a matter of accurately tracking all your expenses and losses. A personal injury attorney from The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. can organize your losses and calculate a compensation figure that will reimburse you and provide enough money to help you rebuild.

Our Nassau County Car Accident Lawyers Are Ready to Help with Your Claim

Drunk driving accidents are a serious matter, and injuries from them can radically change your life. If another driver’s irresponsible behavior has harmed you, you deserve a chance to recover your losses. The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. stands ready to fight for the justice you deserve. We promise to use every strategy in the book to fight for your compensation and will not rest until we have exhausted every legal avenue. Our team will support you through the entire claims process – all you have to do is rest and recover.

Contact us online or call today for a free consultation with a Nassau County car accident lawyer from The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C.