Accident With a Drunk Driver

Were you seriously injured in an accident with a drunk driver? If so, our lawyers in the Bronx would like to learn more about your case. To find out about our services and what we may be able to do for you, call Shulman & Hill at 917.775.0948. We would be happy to provide you with a confidential, over-the-phone case evaluation at no charge.

Why Is Drunk Driving Accident Compensation Important?

You are already painfully aware of the impact that drunk driving accidents can have on all spheres of your life. You could end up:

• Sustaining severe and painful injuries that may or may not heal completely
• Missing work or losing your job
• Struggling to pay bills, including medical bills related to the accident

If a reckless drunk driver is responsible for these losses, they should also be responsible for helping you pay for them. Our Bronx-based car accident attorneys can fight for fair damages in the following categories:

Pain and Suffering

Being involved in any kind of accident can be traumatizing. The injuries that such an accident inflicts also often cause mental and physical distress. If you sustained any kind of serious injury after an accident with a drunk driver, our lawyers in the Bronx can fight for every penny those injuries entitle you to recover.

Examples of serious car crash injuries include but are certainly not limited to:

• Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Cuts or lacerations that require stitches
• Amputation
• Any injury requiring surgery

Medical Expenses

After an accident, some survivors are so badly injured that they must go to an emergency room right away. Others are stable enough to wait for treatment until they can schedule an appointment with their regular care provider.

Either way, the medical bills that follow a drunk driving accident can drain your savings. Compensation from the drunk driver could ease your burden and help ensure you can afford things like:

• Surgery
• Medication
• Hospital stays
• Emergency transportation
• Assistive devices
• Consultations with specialists
• Physical therapy
• Home renovations or custom vehicles

Loss of Income

Medical bills may not be the only source of financial hardship following a traffic accident. Your injuries could keep you from earning a living. Even if you can go to work, you might have to work part-time or accept light-duty assignments until you heal—assuming that recovery is possible.

Whether you eventually recover or are forced to take early retirement, the accident could end up costing you a lot of money—money that you would have used to support your family. Compensation from the drunk driver can help you fill the gap left by this lost income.

Access to Compensation in the Bronx Is Limited

Even though compensation for a drunk driving collision is so vital, it is not available forever. If you do not act quickly, you could lose access to this money.

The statute of limitations for drunk driving cases is typically three years, per CPLR § 214. While exemptions exist, it is better not to rely on them: if you take prompt action following an accident with a drunk driver, our lawyers in the Bronx may have an easier time seeking the damages you deserve.

Our Lawyers Can Help With Your Drunk Driving Accident Case

It is all too easy to feel overwhelmed and upset after a drunk driving accident. Shulman & Hill wants you to know that you do not have to go through this alone. Our office can be there for you as you:

• Try to understand your options
• Ask for fair compensation for past, present, and future losses
• Go up against the drunk driver and their team

Here is a brief overview of how we might handle your case. Keep in mind that everyone’s circumstances vary, so the actions we take in your specific situation may differ from those outlined below:

Launch an Investigation

We can search for various kinds of evidence to build up a strong case file. Examples of evidence we may look for include:

• Police reports and materials gathered by the police
• Medical records
• Photos and video footage
• Witness testimony

What do we do with this information? Our team can use it to establish the drunk driver’s identity, that the driver who hit you was intoxicated, that you would not have been injured if not for their recklessness, and that the amount of compensation you ask for is appropriate.

Determining How to Get Compensation

There are two ways we can pursue compensation for you: by negotiating a settlement or taking the drunk driver to trial and seeking a jury award.

At Shulman & Hill, we carefully review each client’s case to determine the best way to get compensation for them. Once we decide on a course of action, we may:

• Send a demand letter to the drunk driver’s representatives
• Speak to the drunk driver’s representatives over the phone, via email, or via videoconference
• Meet with the other side to show them the evidence we have collected and negotiate a settlement that meets your needs
• Arrange for your case to go to trial by scheduling the trial dates and selecting jury members
• Speak for you in the courtroom and work to persuade the jury to award damages

After an Accident With a Drunk Driver

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) categorizes drunk driving as a type of risky driving behavior. It costs thousands of American lives every year.

Few people expect to be involved in a motor vehicle accident, and it is all too easy to fall prey to panic and confusion following such an event. This is understandable, and we may be able to help you regardless of your post-accident actions. However, there are certain actions you can take to strengthen your case even before you call us, such as:

Getting Medical Attention

Whether you ever end up filing a lawsuit, ensuring the physical safety of yourself and your passengers must be your number one priority. You can do this by:

• Pulling over to the side of the road, if possible, so you do not risk being hit by another vehicle
• Calling 911 if anyone in your car suffered a potentially life-threatening or acute injury (e.g., they lost consciousness for any period of time) or if you want to be extra sure that you are all safe
• Making an appointment with your own doctor if you feel comfortable waiting a short while to get help

All of these actions create a paper trail that connects your injuries with the accident. Once you have taken care of everyone in your vehicle, you can check on the other driver and see if anyone in their vehicle needs assistance.

If you are a bicyclist or pedestrian who was hit by a drunk driver, you have even more reason to seek medical care promptly: the lack of protection your vehicle offers could mean you are especially susceptible to life-threatening injuries.

Calling the Authorities

The police have an obligation to investigate crashes that result in significant injuries and/or property damage. Call them from the scene and, if you are well enough, stay on the scene until they arrive.

Once the police arrive, they may ask you any number of questions about the accident. Only tell them what you know: do not guess or speculate about the severity of your injuries or anything else you do not know for certain.

Speaking With the Drunk Driver

Getting the drunk driver’s insurance and contact information immediately after the crash could make it easier for you to pursue compensation later.

That said, we understand that it might be difficult to get information from a driver who is intoxicated, high, injured, or unconscious. If you cannot communicate with the drunk driver, you still have the right to seek compensation. Let us know what actions you took (or attempted to take) right after the accident.

Taking Photos

Things change quickly during and after a car accident. Before other parties start to arrive and “contaminate” the scene, you will want to take photos or even video that shows what it was like in the moments after the impact. You can use your cell phone to preserve evidence of:

• How your injuries looked, as well as injuries anyone else sustained in your vehicle
• The state of the roadway at the time of the crash
• Damage done to your vehicle and/or to the drunk driver’s vehicle
• The presence of witnesses or cameras that we can track down to further bolster your case file

Start a Bronx Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuit Today

Shulman & Hill is New York’s premier personal injury law firm. If you or a loved one was the victim of an accident with a drunk driver, our lawyers in the Bronx want to see justice done. Dial 917.775.0948 to receive a free case review. We charge no attorney’s fees until you recover compensation.