Long Island Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
With easy access to public transportation and an abundance of taxis and rideshare drivers, New York City encounters significantly fewer car accidents, injuries and deaths due to drunk driving than the national average. Even so, drunk driving car accidents continue to occur with alarming frequency, causing thousands of injuries and hundreds of fatalities every year. Driving under the influence is an easily avoidable behavior for which there is no excuse, and drunk drivers can and should be held liable for the terrible damage and disruption they cause to the families of the people they hit. If you or a loved one were hit by a drunk driver as a driver or pedestrian in Nassau County or New York City, call Giuffré Law Offices in Long Island, Brooklyn or Queens for help holding the responsible party accountable and getting justice and compensation for the damage done. Let our experienced Long Island drunk driving accident lawyers help you today.
Drunk driving car accidents can be especially dangerous and deadly
In the seconds before a crash occurs, most drivers understand they are about to hit somebody, and they take steps to avoid the accident or minimize the impact by turning the wheel or slamming on their brakes. Drunk drivers might not do this. They often don’t realize they are about to cause a crash. Applying the brakes just a second before a crash can significantly reduce the force of the impact. When drunk drivers fail to take this step, they crash into the other car with much greater force. Additionally, drunk drivers are prone to drive much faster or slower than surrounding traffic, drive on the wrong side of the road, drift out of their lane, or fall asleep at the wheel. They make the wrong choices with disastrous results, including overreacting or overcorrecting, as well as failing to react at all. Because of reasons like these, drunk driving car accidents typically account for more than a third of all traffic-related fatalities.
Because drunk driving car accidents are usually more severe, the injuries they cause more often cross the “serious injury” threshold that allows you to step outside of New York’s no-fault law and pursue a tort claim against the at-fault driver for the full extent of your damages. It’s essential to have an attorney represent you in your claim to make sure you are successful and get the maximum amount of compensation that you are due.
A DUI conviction is helpful but not necessary to hold drunk drivers accountable
When a driver who causes an accident is arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI), the accident victim can use the fact of the conviction to prove the at-fault driver was negligent and responsible for the crash. However, it’s not required that the driver be convicted of DUI or even arrested. The standards of proof are much different in a civil case than in a criminal case, and an experienced Long Island auto accident lawyer can still hold a drunk driver liable in a civil suit in situations where the driver escaped a criminal conviction.
Insurance companies pay for accidents caused by drunk drivers
When a drunk driver causes a crash, the fact that they intentionally got behind the wheel after having too much to drink doesn’t let the insurance company off the hook. The collision itself is an unintentional event caused by the driver’s negligence, falling squarely within the driver’s bodily injury liability coverage. If you’re not represented by an attorney, the insurance company might try to disclaim responsibility, hoping you’ll take their word for it and go away. An experienced New York auto accident lawyer knows the law and knows when the insurance company is liable to you, so call a lawyer to discuss your case. Giuffré Law Offices offers a free consultation to learn about your accident and advise you of your options.
Get Help After a Drunk Driving Car Accident in Nassau, Queens or Brooklyn
If you or a loved one has been hit by a drunk driver in Nassau County or throughout Long Island or New York City, call Giuffré Law Offices in Garden City, Brooklyn or Queens at 516-802-9912 to discuss your case. Our Long Island drunk driving accident lawyers take the time to listen to your situation and tell you what we think, and we’ll work hard to make sure you are taken care of during this difficult time.
