Damages in an Intoxicated Driving Collision
After an intoxicated driving collision, injured parties can seek three types of recoverable damages : economic, non-economic, and punitive. Economic damages cover calculable losses such as medical expenses, property damage, rehabilitation, and lost wages. Non-economic damages are more difficult to assign a dollar value to. They include things like pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and emotional distress. Accident victims can also seek and recover future costs, such as ongoing medical care expenses and additional intangible losses. We value our clients’ compensable damages by:
- Gathering documents such as receipts and estimates
- Interviewing experts, including doctors, economists, and others as needed
- Using common techniques to determine a value for non-economic losses
Getting an accurate number for your damages is crucial to get a fair result. Insurance companies will try to offer you a low settlement and push you to settle early to end the matter. We will fight to get you the proper value for your personal injury lawsuit.
Punitive Damages in DUI Crashes
In a drunk driving accident, you may also receive punitive damages. These damages are designed to punish bad behavior and discourage drunk drivers from doing similar actions in the future. However, punitive damages are rare in car accident cases in Louisiana. Our legal team will discuss this possibility with you if they apply to your case. The other side must have committed gross negligence, and the court has to agree that they apply. Most cases of DUI only have economic and non-economic damages.
Wrongful Death
Many cases of DUI crashes end with someone dying. If you’ve lost a loved one after a DUI crash in Lafayette, our firm can help you get wrongful death damages.
Speak with us immediately if you’re in this situation because you have a limited amount of time to file your claim.
