If a drunk driver caused your car accident, you might be dealing with painful injuries, major expenses, and other financial pressures. Fortunately, you may be able to receive compensation for your damages in a personal injury lawsuit. Although the drunk driver involved in your accident may face criminal charges for their actions, you still have a right to pursue compensation from them in a civil lawsuit regardless of whether they are convicted of drunk driving.
A Gretna drunk driving accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can take the lead in your fight for compensation when we represent you. We manage both insurance claims and lawsuits on behalf of our clients. Allow us to take care of the legal work in your case while you focus on your recovery and getting your life back to normal.
Working With a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we provide our clients with many different types of support during a case. Even before you file your lawsuit, we will work diligently to investigate the situation, figure out who is responsible for your injuries, and make sure that your case is filed on time. Note that it is important to act quickly because you typically only have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in Louisiana per CC §3492.
A lawyer from our firm will also:
- Explain any applicable laws or legal jargon that you need to understand
- Handle daily communications with other parties in the case
- Prepare you for a deposition or making a statement with an insurance company
- Retain expert witnesses who can help you prove the responsible party’s liability
- Review any insurance policies and help you file a claim for benefits
- Make sure that insurance companies are treating you fairly based on the details of the applicable policy
- Negotiate for a settlement with the person or parties who caused your injuries
- Prepare for trial
- Keep you updated on how your case is progressing
How to Hold Someone Responsible After a Drunk Driving Accident
Unfortunately, drunk driving is common. Each day, roughly 28 people lose their lives as a result of drunk driving accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
If there is solid evidence that the at-fault driver was drunk or intoxicated, it can be used in your case to establish their negligence. Such evidence may include:
- A police report prepared after the crash describing a field sobriety test and the results
- A breathalyzer or blood sample indicating that the defendant was intoxicated
- Eyewitness testimony that the defendant drinking before the accident
- Inspections of the vehicles involved in the accident
- Video or surveillance footage showing the defendant
- The defendant’s testimony regarding the amount of alcohol they had consumed prior to the accident
You May Be Able to Win Your Case Without Proving That the Other Driver Was Drunk
In general, a drunk driver may owe you compensation if you can prove that they were negligent at the time of the accident and that their negligence caused your injuries. Fortunately, this doesn’t necessarily mean you need to prove that the at-fault driver was drunk to win your case.
For example, if the drunk driver caused your accident by violating a traffic law, you can use proof of this violation as evidence of their negligence. This may include violations like:
- Running a red light
- Speeding
- An illegal turn
- A failure to yield
A Gretna drunk driving accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can collect evidence of negligence and design a strategy to prove the at-fault driver’s liability for your damages when we represent you.
Compensation For Drunk Driving Accident Victims
After you prove that the drunk driver who hurt you was negligent, you can request compensation for your various injuries and expenses. The general rule is that an expense can be covered in the lawsuit if it is reasonably related to the accident and the resulting injuries.
A classic example of an expense that many motor vehicle accident victims claim in their lawsuit is the costs of medical treatment. This may include:
- Emergency transportation
- Hospitalizations
- Surgeries
- Medications
- Physical therapy
- Medical devices
- In-home nursing care
- Doctor’s appointments
- Estimated ongoing medical care costs
Other Types of Damages You May Be Able to Claim
You can also seek compensation for any lost wages or missed paychecks that you were unable to earn because of your injuries or the accident.
Many drunk driving accident victims suffer serious or even catastrophic injuries. This might leave you with a permanent disability or forever change the way you feel. A few types of damages that you may be able to claim for your permanent injuries include:
- Reduced earning capacity
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Amputations
- Diminished quality of life
- Pain and suffering
A Gretna drunk driving accident lawyer from our firm can help you request the full amount of compensation that you may deserve in your insurance claim or lawsuit. Working with our firm is a great way to give yourself peace of mind and to take some of the guesswork out of the legal process.
Call Our Attorneys Today For a Free Case Evaluation
If you are ready to hold a drunk driver responsible and fight for the financial recovery that you deserve, call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers now at (337) 777-7777. A member of our car accident team is standing by to provide you with a case evaluation.
There is no obligation or cost if you call, so there is no risk to you. Furthermore, our firm works on a “no win, no fee” basis – also known as a contingency-fee-basis. If we don’t help you recover a settlement or court award, you don’t have to pay us attorney’s fees.
