If you were injured in a drunk driving accident in Allentown, an award-winning car accident lawyer at Munley Law can help you pursue full compensation for your losses. Our team understands the devastating impact of DUI crashes, medically, financially, and emotionally, and we fight tirelessly for injury victims throughout the Lehigh Valley.
Drunk driving collision cases are uniquely complex because they involve both criminal penalties for the intoxicated driver and civil claims for injured victims. At Munley Law, our Allentown car accident lawyers know how to draw on criminal evidence, including Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) results and police reports, to build stronger claims against negligent drivers and establishments.
With decades of experience and a track record of securing multi-million dollar settlements, our personal injury attorneys provide aggressive representation so you can focus on healing while we handle the legal fight. Contact us today for a free consultation. We don’t charge any fees unless we win your case.
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Call Us At 844-686-5397 How Do Drunk Driving Crashes Devastate Victims and Families in Allentown, PA?
Those involved in a drunk driving accident are often severely injured and need long-term medical care. It’s not uncommon for a car accident victim to suffer from a traumatic brain injury, damage to their spinal cord, fractured bones, and internal organ damage. Many victims never fully get back to the way they were before the tragedy, and they will need continued medical care and help with everyday tasks.
Family members are also affected by the accident. Spouses may have to care for their partner full-time, children may lose parents, and family relations may change for good. Seeing a family member hurt because someone made the choice to drink and drive can cause long-lasting emotional anguish.
The financial damage is often as bad as the physical and emotional damage. Medical costs can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Many families go bankrupt or lose their homes because they can’t pay for the costs of injuries caused by drunk driving.
In 2024, Lehigh County listed 1750 impaired-driving cases, increasing by almost 42% over the last five years. These crashes are not unavoidable tragedies; they are the direct result of preventable choices, and Pennsylvania law allows injured victims and grieving families to pursue accountability and financial recovery from impaired drivers.
How is Fault Determined in a Drunk Driving Accident in Allentown?
It’s easier to prove who is at fault in drunk driving injury cases than in other traffic accidents. In situations of drunk driving, police records include extensive descriptions of:
- How the person looked and acted at the time of the accident, such as bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and an unsteady gait.
- The findings of the field sobriety test
- The breathalyzer readings
- The officer’s testimony
- Police dash cams or body cameras showing the intoxicated driver’s impaired state during the traffic stop and arrest.
- Blood alcohol content evidence showing how drunk someone was at the time of the crash.
- Blood samples and breath testing can show how intoxicated someone is and back up claims for higher damages based on extreme drunkenness.
Criminal court trials create more evidence for civil cases, such as plea deals, testimony from sentence hearings, and records of criminal convictions. Although criminal cases are about punishment, the evidence from them supports civil claims for money damages.
“Since 1959, we have secured over $1 billion in
compensation for our clients.”
Daniel W. Munley
Who Can Be Held At Fault For Your Injuries Following a Drunk Driving Crash?
There may be multiple parties responsible for your accident. Pennsylvania’s Dram Shop Act lets people who were hurt in drunk driving collisions go after bars, restaurants, and other places that provided alcohol to people who were intoxicated.
When private parties give alcohol to visitors who are clearly drunk and then cause a crash, social host responsibility may apply. It takes a lot of work to prove that a social host is responsible, but homeowners’ insurance policies may cover more of the victims’ damages.
How Might DUI Criminal Charges Help Your Case?
Drunk driving cases that go to court make strong evidence for your personal injury claim. Criminal charges and convictions show that the driver broke the law and put public safety at risk, which makes the case for responsibility and higher damages in civil court stronger.
In drunk driving cases, police investigations gather a lot of information on the driver’s impairment, such as blood alcohol content levels, failed field sobriety tests, and officers’ observations of indicators of intoxication. This evidence was produced for criminal trials but can also be used in civil situations to show negligence.
Blood alcohol content evidence shows without a doubt that the driver was drunk at the time of the incident. Higher BAC readings show that the motorist was more impaired, which supports claims for higher damages based on how intoxicated the driver was.
Plea deals and convictions in criminal proceedings are admissions of guilt that make it unnecessary to prove basic culpability in civil lawsuits. Civil proceedings can focus on figuring out how much harm was done instead of arguing about who was to blame when intoxicated drivers plead guilty or are found guilty of DUI.
Why is Hiring an Allentown Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Important?
In drunk driving cases, quick legal action is needed to safeguard victims’ rights and keep necessary evidence safe. Blood alcohol evidence must be obtained as soon as possible because BAC levels go down over time. If the bar or restaurant where the driver drank alcohol had a surveillance camera, the footage may be destroyed automatically unless it is kept through the proper legal steps.
Medical records are vital for figuring out how bad the injuries are and how they are related to the drunk driving crash. Getting an experienced car accident lawyer involved early ensures the medical examination and paperwork are done correctly to support maximum compensation claims.
Insurance firms routinely push victims of drunk driving to settle quickly, before they know how bad their injuries are. Having legal help from the start stops victims from accepting little compensation that doesn’t meet their long-term demands.
Witnesses’ recollections fade quickly, so it’s essential to investigate very carefully. Witnesses who noticed the intoxicated driver’s behavior before the incident or the crash themselves are essential witnesses who can help civil compensation claims.
How Munley Law Can Help
People who are hurt in drunk driving accidents need more than just a lawyer; they need full support while they heal physically and emotionally. Munley Law works closely with doctors at Lehigh Valley Hospital and St. Luke’s to get a complete picture of the severity of your injuries and how long it will take to heal. This medical information helps determine the appropriate amount to pay for both current treatment and future medical needs that may last for years.
Our car accident attorneys handle all discussions with insurance companies and process claims, so victims and their families can focus on getting better instead of dealing with complicated paperwork and insurance companies’ processes. We fight to make sure that insurance companies pay fair amounts instead of trying to avoid paying valid claims.
Family members often need help understanding the legal process and their rights as secondary victims. We assist families through this tough period and ensure that all of their damages are properly covered in compensation claims.
Why You Should Hire Munley Law for Your Drunk Driving Case
Munley Law has helped many people in Allentown receive compensation after being hit by a drunk driver. We know that victims can get more money in these instances, and we work to ensure they get the money they need to cover the harm their injuries have caused.
If an Allentown business keeps serving drunk customers, it might be held responsible for any injuries that happen. These businesses usually have a lot of commercial liability insurance, which pays more than individual auto insurance plans. When you prove dram shop culpability, the total amount you can get back often increases greatly.
We have extensive expertise in dealing with the complicated medical, financial, and emotional issues that arise in drunk driving injury cases. We collaborate with medical professionals, economists, and life care planners to ensure that all present and future needs are fairly assessed and included in compensation requests.
In addition, our Allentown car accident lawyers have:
- Over 250 years of combined experience in representing DUI crash victims in Allentown, Lehigh County, and Pennsylvania
- Over $1 billion recovered in verdicts and settlements for injured clients, including a $4.4 million settlement in a car accident case.
- Strong professional recognition and award-winning attorneys. Marion Munley and Dan Munley are members of the American Board of Trial Advocates, which recognizes attorneys with strong trial and other litigation experience.
- Munley Law has also had consistent awards from Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms, Super Lawyers, and the Lawdragon 500 Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers List.
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FAQs About Drunk Driving Accidents in Allentown
What Compensation Can I Seek After Being Hit by a Drunk Driver?
If you were hit by a drunk driver, you may be able to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, future medical care, and other losses related to the crash. In fatal cases, surviving family members may pursue wrongful death damages.
How Quickly Should I Contact a Lawyer After a DUI Crash?
You should contact a lawyer as soon as possible after a DUI crash. Evidence such as BAC results, surveillance footage, and witness statements can be lost or destroyed if legal action is delayed.
Can a Criminal DUI Conviction Help My Injury Claim?
Yes, criminal charges, plea agreements, and convictions can strengthen a civil personal injury claim by helping establish fault and demonstrating the driver’s reckless behavior.
What if the Bar or Restaurant Overserved the Drunk Driver?
Under Pennsylvania’s Dram Shop Act, bars, restaurants, and other alcohol-serving establishments may be held liable if they served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person who later caused a crash.
Is it Worth Taking a Drunk Driving Accident Case to Trial?
If the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, taking the case to trial may be necessary to pursue the full value of your claim.
How Long Do I Have to File a Drunk Driving Accident Claim in Pennsylvania?
In most cases, Pennsylvania law gives injury victims two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, though exceptions may apply.
What if the Drunk Driver Does Not Have Enough Insurance Coverage?
Your attorney can explore additional sources of compensation, including uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage and claims against third parties.
Contact Munley Law For Your Allentown Drunk Driving Case
Call Munley Law today to set up a free consultation. We will review your case, explain your rights, and help you understand how we can get you the money you need for your injuries and pain.
We charge no fees unless we win your case.
Daniel W. Munley
Daniel W. Munley is an award-winning personal-injury attorney and champion of plaintiffs’ rights. For decades he’s won multi-million verdicts and settlements and is recognized as a national leader in truck and rideshare litigation,including a record $26 million truck settlement in Northeastern Pennsylvania and a $20 million recovery in 2024 for life-altering commercial-vehicle injuries.
