Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
If you were hurt by an impaired motorist, our drunk driver lawyers in Yonkers can help you pursue answers and accountability. We represent injured drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, and families after alcohol-related crashes in Yonkers and across Westchester County.
Our team at Shulman & Hill has over 200 years of combined experience. We handle various drunk driving matters, including no-fault claims, pain-and-suffering lawsuits, UM/UIM claims, dram shop actions, and wrongful death cases. You can focus on medical care while we manage the legal and insurance process.
With over 26,000 clients served, we know what it takes to help our clients get the compensation they need to move forward. Contact us today for a free consultation with one of our Yonkers car accident lawyers.
Why Choose Our Yonkers Drunk Driver Lawyers
Drunk driving crashes often involve both criminal charges and civil injury claims, which can make these cases more challenging than other collisions. While prosecutors handle the criminal case, injured victims still need to pursue a separate claim for compensation. Our attorneys focus on building that civil case while tracking developments that may affect the evidence.
We move quickly to gather important records, including police reports, witness statements, and available surveillance footage. In some cases, arrest records, chemical test results, and reconstruction evidence can also help establish liability. Our team works to secure and organize that evidence as early as possible.
We also handle the insurance process while you focus on treatment and recovery. Our Yonkers personal injury lawyers deal with insurers, assess the full value of the claim, and prepare the case for negotiation or litigation when needed.
New York DWI Laws and How They Affect Your Injury Claim
New York law prohibits several forms of impaired driving, including driving while impaired by alcohol and drug-impaired driving. For most adult drivers, the legal blood alcohol concentration limit is 0.08%. Lower limits apply to commercial drivers and drivers under 21.
When a drunk driving crash causes injuries, the criminal case and the civil case move on separate tracks. A criminal charge or arrest may help support your injury claim, but it is not required in order to recover compensation. You can still bring a civil claim by showing that the impaired driver’s conduct caused the crash and the resulting harm.
New York’s no-fault rules also affect when you can sue for pain and suffering after a motor vehicle collision. In most cases, recovering damages for pain and suffering requires proof that the injuries meet New York’s serious injury threshold under the No-Fault Law.
New York also follows comparative negligence rules, which means you can still recover damages even if you share some responsibility for the accident.
Proving Liability Against a Drunk Driver
A drunk driving injury claim still must be proved under the rules that apply in any civil case. That means showing the other driver acted negligently, that the negligent conduct caused the collision, and that the crash resulted in compensable harm. Evidence of intoxication can be an important part of that showing, but it is not the only issue.
A DWI arrest, charge, or conviction may strengthen the claim, but recovery does not depend on a criminal result. Civil liability can be established through police reports, witness statements, scene evidence, chemical test records, and other proof showing that impairment contributed to the crash.
Our Yonkers drunk driving accident attorneys build these cases with that standard in mind. We gather the available evidence, address disputes raised by insurance carriers, and present a clear record of how the driver’s impairment led to the collision and your injuries.
What Compensation Can You Seek After a Drunk Driving Crash
Your recovery can include medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, rehabilitation, and vehicle damage. If you meet New York’s serious injury threshold, you may also seek pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. In egregious drunk driving cases, punitive damages may be available to punish reckless conduct.
No-fault PIP benefits typically cover initial medical bills and a portion of lost income, regardless of fault. Our lawyers can coordinate PIP, health insurance, and third-party claims so your bills get paid correctly and on time. We also evaluate UM/UIM coverage if the impaired driver is uninsured or underinsured.
Dram Shop and Social Host Liability
In some drunk driving cases, liability may extend beyond the driver. Under New York’s Dram Shop Act, a commercial establishment may be liable if it unlawfully sells alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person whose intoxication caused injury.
Alcoholic Beverage Control Law § 65 also prohibits sales to a person under 21 or to a visibly intoxicated person.
Social host liability is more limited. As a general rule, a private host is not liable for serving alcohol to an adult guest who later causes a crash. Claims are more likely to arise when alcohol was knowingly furnished to a person under 21, which is addressed separately under General Obligations Law § 11-100.
Our Yonkers drunk driver lawyers can investigate where the driver obtained alcohol, who provided it, and whether the service violated New York law. In the right case, that investigation can identify additional defendants and additional insurance coverage.
How Our Yonkers Drunk Driver Attorneys Help Families After a Fatal DWI Crash
When a loved one is lost to a drunk driving crash, we can file a wrongful death action on behalf of the personal representative. Damages in these cases can include funeral and burial costs, medical bills, loss of financial support, and the value of services the deceased provided. We also pursue pain and suffering where supported by evidence.
Our team coordinates with law enforcement and the District Attorney while independently investigating civil liability. Our goal is accountability and meaningful relief for your family. You’ll have a single point of contact and steady communication throughout the process.
Get Legal Guidance After a Drunk Driving Crash in Yonkers
Shulman & Hill represents injured people and families in civil claims arising from alcohol-related crashes, with a focus on identifying liability, preserving evidence, and pursuing the full financial recovery available under New York law.
If you were injured by an impaired driver, our drunk driver attorneys in Yonkers can assess the facts and explain your options. Contact us to arrange a free and confidential consultation.