Driving while under the influence of substances (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) can have devastating effects. Drunk drivers are not entirely in control of their actions, which commonly leads to horrific car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 37 people die every day because of drunk driving accidents. If you or someone you know has been in a drunk driving accident, there are quite a few types of damages you can pursue against the driver with the help of an attorney.
A car accident can cost a lot of money in terms of medical bills and car repairs. Economic damages refer to any financial loss due to a DUI accident. These damages are usually tangible losses that can be calculated easily by counting time off work, adding medical bills, and more.
Most accident victims will require medical care, like hospital stays, diagnostic testing, bandages or casts, etc. Even accidents without significant injury may accrue costs due to ambulance trips, testing, and checkups. Health insurance may only cover some things, resulting in additional costs. A DUI victim may recover the money spent on medical bills in a successful personal injury case.
Vehicular damage is quite common in an automobile accident. Drunk driving is particularly reckless and can quickly destroy a vehicle. Car repairs can cost a significant amount of money, and if a car is totaled, you may even need to buy a brand-new vehicle. Calculating repair or replacement costs for your car is another important type of compensation to acquire.
Medical checkups, injuries, car repair appointments, and court dates are all common ways a person can miss out on at least one workday due to a car accident. If the accident occurred on a workday, you will unlikely make it to work that day. Even if you only lost a few workdays, that can amount to hundreds of dollars! Missed wages add up, and a personal injury lawsuit can help recover these funds.
It’s not uncommon for drunk drivers to hit personal property, such as fences, signs, yards, or homes. Property damage can cost a lot to repair, primarily if the accident results in significant structural damage to the house. Personal injury lawsuits seek to recover these funds as much as possible.
Hiring an attorney, filing court documents, and preparing for litigation can cost a lot of legal fees. While many attorneys take a small percentage of the final award out of your compensation as their fee, it can still affect your compensation. Drunk drivers can pay legal fees as a part of economic damages.
Not all damages from a DUI car accident are financial. Emotional damages, for example, aren’t easily quantifiable, such as loss of life, enjoyment, or devastation after an accident. While litigation can’t erase emotional pain, compensation can help pay for therapy, grief counseling, and other solutions to help cope with emotional damage.
The aftermath of a car accident is emotionally traumatic for everyone, including victims and their family members. Casualties, permanent injuries, and financial loss can lead to a temporary or permanent loss of relationships due to death, divorce, separation, or estrangement.
Grief is the emotional symptoms and trauma that occur after a loved one’s death. Grief can last years and can be the catalyst for many other issues, such as depression, substance abuse, job loss, relationship loss, and much more. Grief can be permanent and can require a lot of therapy work to manage. Death is a typical result of a car accident.
Car accidents are often horrific and can cause permanent mental conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for both victims and family members, mainly if it results in death or severe injury. Anxiety disorders can arise, particularly during driving or returning to the road after the crash. Emotional trauma can lead to substance abuse disorders or other complications.
If an accident results in injury, physical pain can be expected. Pain can lead to PTSD, substance abuse disorder, loss of jobs, loss of relationships, and more. Chronic pain can severely impact daily living and can even lead to suicide. Even temporary pain can severely disrupt one’s way of life.
Punitive damages are another type of economic charge to punish the guilty party. They’re usually issued to deter or make an example of gross negligence or misconduct. Punitive damages can be expected in car accident cases in which automobile manufacturer negligence results in disfiguring or deadly injuries. In a drunk driving accident case, punitive damages are usually considered if the guilty party’s acts were willing, significantly reprehensible, particularly damaging, or frequent. A qualified attorney can help you determine whether to pursue punitive damages.
As a car accident victim, you may qualify for any or all these damages due to the loss and hardship you suffered. In a typical lawsuit, however, what you are awarded is determined on a case-by-case basis, regardless of whether you settle out of court. Hiring the right attorney is the key to winning the maximum amount possible in restitution. You need a qualified, experienced, and reputable attorney specializing in personal injury cases like DUI accidents. Attorneys like Mitch Grissim & Associates have in-depth experience with personal injury cases, especially DUI accidents. They will know what damages can be recovered and how to earn the highest amount possible with each case. Hiring the right legal team is everything.
Drunk driving accidents can be devastating for victims and their family members. Fortunately, victims can work with a qualified attorney to pursue many damages that occur after an accident. Damages can be economical, emotional, and punitive in general. Your attorney can help you determine what types of damages you can pursue. Ensure the attorney you hire is qualified, reputable, and experienced in car accident law.
