Accident With a Drunk Driver

Suffering any personal injury can be traumatic, but an accident with a drunk driver is especially infuriating. The dangers of drinking and driving are well-documented. Knowing that someone willfully ignored those dangers and put your life at risk is a hard truth to live with.

If you were injured in a car accident with a drunk driver, our lawyers in Queens can fight to secure fair compensation and proper justice for you and your family. To learn more through a free case review, call Shulman & Hill at 917.793.0642. We are available all day, every day.

After a Drunk Driving Accident, You Deserve Legal Help

Are you considering taking legal action after being hit by a drunk driver? You are not alone: many accident victims decide to sue for compensation after encountering a careless or reckless individual. Before you begin, you should know that the legal process can be very long, tedious, and complex. You might have trouble securing the money you need if:

• You have no experience as a lawyer or with the legal system.
• You have other concerns, such as supporting your family or receiving treatment for your injuries, that occupy your attention.
• You are still in pain from your injury, or you are on medication that affects how you think.

After an accident with a drunk driver, lawyers in Queens from Shulman & Hill can take care of your entire case on your behalf from start to finish, which includes the following tasks:

• Collecting evidence to prove the drunk driver’s liability and the extent of the injuries they caused you
• Determining if there are any other liable parties in addition to the drunk driver 
• Taking care of all administrative tasks, from submitting paperwork to fielding phone calls
• Negotiating for a settlement and/or presenting your case in a courtroom in front of a jury
• Letting you know if we think any settlements the drunk driver or their insurance company offer are fair or if you should keep fighting
• Providing you with regular case updates and advising you on how to handle new developments

With us in your corner, you would not have to complete any legal task on your own. Our attorneys can do it all, making sure that the legal system respects your rights and that you have plenty of time to rest and relax after your ordeal.

The Drunk Driver May Owe You Money

For us, every case is personal. There is nothing more important to us than helping clients fight for the amount of compensation they need and deserve to:

• Hold the drunk driver accountable for all of the damage they have done
• Cover accident-related expenses, especially the cost of past and future medical care
• Reimburse them for time spent away from work, as well as the time they anticipate having to take off
• Compensate them in some small way for all of the pain and suffering they have endured

To that end, we will work closely with you to determine the best way to proceed with your case. Our team will accomplish this by:

• Talking to you about injury symptoms and the effect the injuries have had on your life
• Talking with people who know you about the changes in your life and health
• Reviewing evidence (e.g., medical records, tax filings) to establish how much you have already lost due to the collision
• Calculating how much you could lose in the future due to the collision
• Categorizing each of your losses as a medical expense, a loss of income, or pain and suffering

At Shulman & Hill, we do not think accident survivors should have to spend one moment worrying about the losses they incurred due to an accident with a drunk driver. Let us do all the hard work to pursue on your behalf.

Compensation for a Wrongful Death

In the worst-case scenario, the drunk driver has robbed you of someone you love. Such a loss could be compounded if you were financially dependent on the deceased and now struggle to make ends meet.

If you face this situation, please accept Shulman & Hill’s deepest condolences for your loss. You may be eligible for compensation following a fatal accident with a drunk driver. Our lawyers in Queens would be honored to assist you with your wrongful death case.

Drunk Drivers and Car Insurance

If you do win compensation from the drunk driver, they probably will not pay it out of pocket. Instead, their car insurance policy would cover what you ask for.

What happens if the drunk driver has no insurance or if they fled after the accident and cannot be found? These circumstances can make it more challenging to recover compensation. Shulman & Hill, however, is not afraid of a challenge.

No matter what obstacles stand between you and financial compensation, you still deserve damages for what you have gone through. Our team can fight as long and as hard as it takes to get you your money.

The Statute of Limitations on Drunk Driving Accident  Lawsuits

You generally have just three years following a drunk driving accident to start a lawsuit for financial compensation. Why? State law prohibits personal injury survivors from filing a case more than three years after an accident, as stated in CPLR § 214. The statute in wrongful death cases is even shorter. According to EPTL § 5-4.1, the state usually sets the deadline at two years.

If the statute of limitations has already passed in your case, there is still hope: we can sometimes secure an extension on the deadline that would allow you to file anyway. We encourage you to call us as soon as you are ready to learn about your options.

Other Reasons to Start Working on Your Case Soon

While the statute of limitations is a good incentive for would-be plaintiffs to start their cases in a timely manner, there are other reasons why you do not want to wait to take legal action.

The most important of these reasons is the effect that time can have on your case. The further away we get from the accident date, the harder it can be to find:

• Photos or videos that show any part of the event
• Witnesses who can accurately remember what they saw
• Other relevant documentation to prove what happened

Even your own memory may start to fade after a while. If you start your case relatively quickly, our team might have more (and more accurate) material to work with as we seek the damages you need.

Why Are Drunk Drivers Dangerous?

As the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) explains, alcohol and other drugs affect the brain in a number of ways, including by:

• Slowing reaction times
• Reducing muscular coordination
• Reducing the ability to think critically, concentrate on the task at hand, and make sound decisions
• Reducing balance
• Altering mood, which can potentially result in increased anger or frustration

The more of the drug you consume, the harder it becomes to make good decisions or react appropriately to dangerous situations. These are vital skills for a driver. When these skills are impaired, the drunk driver cannot operate a vehicle safely, and they put themselves and everyone around them in danger.

What to Do Around a Drunk Driver

If the person you were planning to drive with is drunk, do not get in the car with them, and do not let them drive. The NHTSA recommends taking away their keys and arranging for someone sober to take the drunk person (and you) home.

You may be able to recognize a drunk driver on the road by their erratic behavior (e.g., weaving back and forth rather than driving straight). If you see a driver behaving recklessly, stay as far away from them as you can, and do not respond if they try to upset you (e.g., by yelling at you).

Injured in an Accident With a Drunk Driver in Queens, New York?

No case is too complex for Shulman & Hill to take on. After your accident with a drunk driver, our lawyers in Queens can do all of the work associated with pursuing your case. All you would have to do is focus on getting better.

Call us at 917.793.0642 at any time, day or night, for a free and confidential case assessment. Our team also takes Brox drunk driving accident cases on a contingency-fee basis, so we don’t take any attorney’s fees up front or out of pocket. We only receive payment if you do.