Springfield Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys

Recovering Compensation After a Drunk Driving Accident

Securing the compensation you deserve after a drunk driving accident can change the course of your future. Victims often suffer severe and life-changing injuries like a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or spinal cord injury.

The treatment and care needed for patients with such injuries are financially out of reach for most families. Ending up in this situation because of another driver’s bad choices is staggering in its unfairness.

Schedule a free consultation with one of our Springfield drunk driving accident attorneys by calling (417) 855-2022. We have been fighting for car accident victims since 1976.

By filing a claim against the drunk driver and their insurance company, you can receive compensation to that covers your damages, including:

• Medical treatment
• Lost wages
• Permanent disability
• Vehicle repair
• Funeral and burial expenses

Reach out to us today to learn how we can help with your injury claim.

Liability in Drunk Driving Accidents

No one with a driver’s license can make a case that they weren’t aware of the dangers of driving drunk. Therefore, liability in these cases should be open-and-shut, right?

Not so fast. It’s true getting behind the wheel while intoxicated is a negligent act, but accidents are caused by specific mistakes—a driver running a red light or driving the wrong way on a road. This means, even in a drunk driving accident, an insurer can question and investigate you to see whether your behaviors contributed to the collision.

Even when the other driver was drunk, their insurer could be able to reduce the amount of your settlement if they manage to pin some of the blame on you. Our Springfield drunk driving accident lawyers can handle interviews with insurance adjusters and provide our own investigation to help you avoid unfair blame.

Can an Establishment Be Liable for a Drunk Driving Accident?

You may have heard that liability in drunk driving accidents can rest with the party responsible for serving alcohol to the driver who hit you as well as the driver themselves. This is true in some cases, but these claims are hard to prove. First, under Missouri law, the establishment must have served an individual who was so intoxicated they demonstrated “significantly uncoordinated physical action or significant physical dysfunction.” If you cannot prove this, you do not have cause to bring a claim. In cases where the drunk individual was under 21, you might be able to bring a claim, but only if they did not have a fake ID.

Additionally, the state’s dram shop law only applies to businesses that sell alcohol for consumption on the premises. This means liquor stores cannot be held liable, even if they sold alcohol to a drunk individual. Likewise, the host of a social gathering where liquor is not being sold or furnished by professionals is not liable for any accidents caused by drunken guests after they leave.

In most cases, it’s best to focus on your claim against the driver rather than drawing a third party into a suit. We can evaluate your case and explain how dram shop law may or may not apply.

Fatal Drunk Driving Accidents

Each year, over 10,000 individuals are killed in drunk driving accidents. Seeing this happen to a loved one is heartbreaking. One driver’s poor choices can upend an entire family, and those affected deserve justice for their loved ones.

Our attorneys are here to help if your loved one was taken from you by a drunk driver. With a wrongful death claim, we can help you recover compensation to help with funeral expenses, the loss of a household provider, and the other challenges that come with a sudden and unexpected death in the family.

Civil vs. Criminal Law in Drunk Driving Claims

If the police respond to an accident and find one of the drivers is drunk, that individual will become the subject of a criminal investigation. Regardless of any charges the state is pursuing, you are still allowed to bring a civil claim for the accident.

The criminal case against the driver may provide significant evidence to support your claim. Our attorneys can secure a copy of the case file and include any relevant information we find.

Strong-Garner-Bauer P.C. offers free consultations to clients in and around Springfield, MO. Call us today at (417) 855-2022 to schedule a one-on-one with our drunk driving accident attorneys.