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When a drunk driver’s reckless actions lead to devastating accidents, the consequences can change lives forever. Lazzara Law Firm in Scottsdale, AZ, stands ready to provide compassionate and effective legal representation for victims of drunk driving accidents. Our experienced team of attorneys works tirelessly to ensure that justice is served and that you receive the compensation you deserve.
Everyone deserves the comprehensive legal representation a skilled DUI accident lawyer can provide in the aftermath of a horrific crash. Lazzara Law Firm has extensive experience dealing with car accident claims, including drunk driving accidents. If a drunk driver’s negligence has harmed you or a loved one, call our law firm at (480) 456-3080 to schedule your free consultation to discuss your legal rights.
Driving under the influence impairs a driver’s judgment, reaction time, and motor skills, making it one of the leading causes of severe car accidents in AZ. Every year, drunk drivers cause countless injuries and fatalities in Scottsdale, leaving victims and their families facing physical, emotional, and financial challenges.
You and your personal injury lawyer must be able to show negligence on the part of the other driver to have a successful drunk driving accident lawsuit. Because driving while intoxicated (DWI) or while impaired by alcohol or other substances is illegal in Arizona, anyone who engages in these activities is considered negligent. In most cases, if someone causes an accident and the police are called, the responding officer will question all parties involved and observe them for any signs of impairment. They may also question witnesses who saw the crash happen. Signs that a person may be impaired include:
If law enforcement believes the driver may be intoxicated, they will take them into custody and perform blood or breath tests. If the driver’s blood alcohol level is at or above .08% (or .04% for a driver with a CDL), they will face criminal charges. Your drunk driving accident attorney can use the toxicology reports from these tests as evidence in your civil lawsuit. While a drunk driving conviction can establish liability for the crash, there is also other evidence your legal team can gather to prove negligence if a conviction did not occur.
In addition to bringing a civil suit against the driver, victims may also be able to seek damages from the businesses and individuals who over-served the drunk driver prior to the accident. Any business that serves alcohol is subject to Arizona’s dram shop acts, which are state laws that render these businesses civilly liable if they are negligent in selling or serving alcohol. If the establishment over-serves an obviously intoxicated person or serves alcohol to a minor, and that individual then causes harm to another person due to their intoxication, the injured party can bring a civil case against the business. All places that have a license to serve alcohol to patrons are subject to the dram shop acts, including:
In the most tragic cases, drunk driving accidents lead to wrongful death, leaving families grieving the preventable loss of a loved one.
Some states also allow you to hold a social host liable. A social host is a private person who serves alcohol to guests, often at house parties or other informal gatherings. Arizona generally does not consider social hosts to be liable for their guests’ consumption unless they knowingly served alcohol to an underage person who then caused an accident. A DUI accident attorney can help you determine who may be at fault in your specific case so you can recover the maximum amount for your injuries.
Determining liability in a drunk driving accident is essential to securing compensation. Responsible parties may include:
Our experienced drunk driving accident attorneys will investigate your case thoroughly to identify all liable parties and pursue maximum compensation.
Victims of drunk driving accidents can face serious physical, emotional, and financial challenges following the collision. A catastrophic injury caused by the wreck can derail your career and make it difficult to perform daily tasks or spend time with your family. You deserve fair compensation for your losses. An experienced drunk driving accident lawyer can negotiate with the at-fault driver’s insurance company to secure a settlement that meets your needs. If the insurer is unwilling to settle, a civil claim may be necessary to recover damages.
Your drunk driving injury lawyer will carefully examine the financial impact of your crash to determine your economic damages. You can recover compensation for the monetary losses you’ve experienced, such as:
Of course, a collision with an intoxicated driver causes more than just financial harm. It’s a terrifying event that can leave emotional scars lasting a lifetime. Full compensation for your claim should consider the effects of these non-monetary losses as well:
Sometimes the court may award punitive damages in a drunk driving accident case. Punitive damages are used to punish defendants who exhibited a reckless disregard for the well-being of others or who caused harm through grossly negligent or intentionally malicious actions. For example, repeat offenders who have dozens of drunk driving convictions on their record or a history of harming people while intoxicated may be more likely to have punitive damages assessed against them.
Sadly, the severity of a drunk driving crash can often result in the death of one or more victims. While no monetary compensation can bring back a loved one who has been killed, a wrongful death lawsuit can ensure that surviving family members do not need to worry about a financial catastrophe caused by this senseless tragedy. As part of a wrongful death lawsuit, a family may be able to seek compensation for:
In AZ, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is typically two years from the date of the accident. However, exceptions may apply, so it’s crucial to consult a Scottsdale DUI lawyer as soon as possible.
Yes, AZ’s dram shop laws allow victims to hold establishments accountable if they served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated individual who caused the accident.
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