Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents every year. Accidents involving alcohol are often severe and can result in serious and costly injuries. After sustaining damages in an accident caused by a drunk driver, getting your life back on track can be nearly impossible without recovering fair compensation.
At the Morelli Law Firm, we know how devastating an accident caused by a drunk driver can be. Our team of Clifton drunk driving accident lawyers can help you recover the money you need to move on after an accident.
What a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Can Do for You
After an injury caused by a drunk driver, you will likely be facing serious injuries. The last thing you need is to worry about the stress of fighting a legal battle to recover compensation. Fortunately, a drunk driving accident lawyer can take over all aspects of your legal case, allowing you to focus on healing from your injuries.
Once you hire a lawyer, they will get to work investigating your accident to establish liability and gather evidence in support of your compensation claim. They will then assess your damages and calculate their value. Your lawyer will discuss your options with you and advise you about the best path forward. Next, they will submit the required paperwork to the appropriate party.
If you are filing a personal injury lawsuit, your attorney will go through all the steps of the pretrial process as they prepare to represent you in court. Simultaneously, your attorney will be in negotiations with opposing counsel, attempting to negotiate a settlement. Reaching a settlement agreement can help you get your money quickly and avoid an unpredictable trial.
Claiming Compensation After a Drunk Driving Accident
After getting hurt in a drunk driving accident, you will likely be eligible to recover a wide array of damages. The specific damages that apply to your case will depend on the circumstances of your accident and the injuries you sustained. Compensatory damages are divided between economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Any losses you sustain that directly impact your finances are considered economic damages. These damages include both expenses that you must pay and income that you miss out on because of your accident. Economic damages can cover both current and future losses. Common economic damages include:
- Property damage
- Missed wages
- Lowered earning capacity
- Medical costs
- Future medical bills
Non-Economic Damages
The rest of the losses that you suffer fall into this category. Non-economic damages are losses that can not be replaced. These losses are often profound and can affect the rest of your life. The court will likely do its best to make up for these irreplaceable losses by awarding substantial compensation for non-economic damages. Common non-economic damages include:
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Diminished quality of life
Clifton Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
Criminal Charges and Civil Litigation
Your drunk driving accident attorney in Clifton may advise that you don’t file your civil lawsuit immediately in a drunk driving accident case. In this situation, the liable driver is likely facing criminal charges, and it might be in your best interest to wait until their criminal trial has concluded.
A guilty verdict could be used as evidence in your lawsuit. At the same time, a not guilty verdict should not have a negative impact on your case because the burden of proof is far higher in a criminal case.
Punitive Damages
Drunk driving accident victims are often able to recover punitive damages from the liable party. Punitive damages are only awarded in personal injury cases where the actions of the at-fault party were criminally negligent or done with the deliberate intention of causing harm.
The Statute of Limitations for a Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuit
It is critical to be aware of how long you have to file a lawsuit after an injury. In New Jersey, the general statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is two years. However, there may be conditions that apply to your case that further limit the amount of time you have to file.
The best way to ensure that all deadlines are met and protect your right to compensation is by hiring a DUI accident lawyer in Clifton soon after your accident. Enabling your attorney to get started on your case early will also put them in the best position to gather evidence and build a strong case on your behalf.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney
Anyone can afford to hire a personal injury lawyer after getting hurt in a drunk driving accident. While most lawyers bill their clients as they work on their cases, personal injury attorneys only collect their fees when their clients get compensation. This money is taken as a preset percentage of the payout, directly from the money paid by the liable party.
Under this system, you can feel confident that your attorney will do everything in their power to get you as much money for your claim as possible. Not only will they only get paid if you collect compensation, but the more money you get, the more your lawyer receives.
Get a Free Consultation From a Clifton Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Today
Recovering compensation after an injury is often an essential step on the road to recovery. At the Morelli Law Firm, our team of Clifton drunk driving accident attorneys has a proven track record of securing favorable results for our clients after an accident. Fill out our online contact form or give us a call today to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation.