]Drunk driving is one of the top causes of car accidents each year. Additionally, the accidents caused by drunk drivers have a high rate of fatalities. If you have been injured by a drunk driver, you likely face significant damages and may be facing a long and difficult road to recovery.
At the Morelli Law Firm, our team of drunk driving accident lawyers in Wayne knows how devastating a drunk driving accident can be. We will take over every aspect of your legal case, leaving you free to focus on your recovery.
How a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Can Help
When you hire a drunk driving accident lawyer, they will take over every aspect of your legal case. They will begin by investigating your accident with the aim of establishing liability and gathering evidence to support your compensation claim. Once that is complete, your attorney will review your damages and calculate the value of your case.
The next step they will take will be to discuss your case with you and advise you of your legal options. They will explain the pros and cons of the different paths open to you and advise you of their professional opinion on how best to proceed. They will likely either submit a claim to the liable party’s insurer or file a personal injury lawsuit with the court.
If you are pursuing a lawsuit, your lawyer will begin the steps of the pretrial process in preparation to represent you in court. Throughout the process, your lawyer will be in contact with opposing counsel, attempting to negotiate a fair settlement deal. Settling your case out of court has the benefit of getting you paid quickly and avoiding an unpredictable courtroom trial.
Be Aware of the Statute of Limitations for Filing a Lawsuit
When filing a personal injury lawsuit in New Jersey, the general statute of limitations to file is two years. After this two-year deadline has passed, it may be impossible to recover compensation. Additionally, you may be faced with even less time to file if certain conditions apply to your case.
To make sure you meet all deadlines and protect your right to recover compensation, you should hire a Wayne drunk driving accident attorney as soon as possible after your collision. Doing so will have the added benefit of putting them in the best position to recover evidence and build a strong case for compensation.
Wayne Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
DUI Accident Lawyers Get Paid on a Contingency Fee Basis
The majority of lawyers charge their clients based on the amount of time they spend working on their cases. However, personal injury lawyers tend to handle payment differently. Most personal injury lawyers charge their clients based on results. They only get paid if their client recovers compensation. If they are unable to secure payment for their client, they work for free.
Under this system, your attorney will collect their fee as a preset percentage of the compensation that you receive from the liable party. That means that not only does your lawyer only get paid if you collect a payout, but the more you get, the higher their payday. Under this system, you can guarantee that your lawyer’s interests will be aligned with your own.
An additional benefit of contingency fee payment structures is that they allow any accident victim to hire an experienced attorney, regardless of their financial means.
Compensatory Damages You May Be Able to Claim
After an accident caused by a drunk driver, you will likely be eligible to recover several different types of damages. The specific damages you will be able to recover will depend on the details of your accident and the injuries you suffered. All compensatory damages are either economic or non-economic.
Economic Damages
These are the damages you suffer that can be measured in cash. Any loss you face from your accident that results in you having to pay money, or miss out on income, is considered a form of economic damages. This includes both current and future financial losses.
Common economic damages include:
- Property damage
- Missed wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Medical expenses
- Future medical costs
Non-Economic Damages
All your other losses fall into the category of non-economic damages. There is no way to properly compensate accident victims for the kinds of losses covered by non-economic damages. Because of this, you can expect to receive a significant payout for these losses.
Common non-economic damages include:
- Permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Lowered quality of life
- Loss of companionship
- Mental anguish
Drunk Drivers Will Likely Face Criminal Charges
In addition to the civil lawsuit that you may bring against the drunk driver responsible for your damages, these parties often face criminal charges as well. While it is essential to file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations runs out, your drunk driving accident lawyer in Wayne may advise that you wait until the criminal trial takes place.
If the liable party gets convicted in criminal court, you can use that conviction as evidence in your case. Additionally, a not-guilty verdict will not hurt your case because the burden of proof is much higher in a criminal case than in a civil lawsuit.
Punitive Damages
In car accident cases involving a drunk driver, punitive damages are often available as well. Punitive damages are meant to punish the at-fault driver if their actions were criminally negligent or performed with the intent of causing harm. Punitive damages are not awarded in the majority of car accident cases but are awarded in a high number of drunk driving accidents.
Get a Free Consultation Today
If you were injured by a drunk driver, the Morelli Law Firm is here to help. Our team of experienced drunk driving accident attorneys in Wayne have a proven track record of recovering favorable payouts for our clients.
Contact us today for a free case evaluation. You can get started by giving us a call or filling out our online contact form.