We all know driving after drinking is risky. Alcohol impacts the central nervous system, and, in many ways, limits our ability to drive safely. In Pennsylvania, a driver’s blood alcohol concentration cannot exceed 0.08%. Driving past this limit seriously affects visual processing and depth perception, reduces coordination, impairs the perception of objects and speed, and therefore impairs overall vehicle control.
Driving drunk makes a driver incredibly dangerous as well. The National Highway Traffic Safety Association estimates that every day, 37 people die in an accident involving a drunk driver. That means that one person every 39 minutes dies as a result of someone’s decision to drive drunk. The number of people impacted only increases when we consider accidents involving serious injury, but no death, and that it is sometimes difficult to get a full picture of the number of accidents caused by alcohol.
So what happens if you or a loved one were involved in an accident with a drunk driver? You need an experienced advocate on your side.
$32 Million Wrongful Death
$26 Million Truck Accident
$17.5 Million Car Accident
$12 Million Product Liability
$9 Million Truck Accident
$8 Million Truck Accident
$8 Million Truck Accident
$7.5 Million Auto Accident
$6.9 Million Garbage Truck Accident
$6.5 Million Traumatic Brain Injury
$5 Million Medical Malpractice
$5 Million Bus Accidents
Why Do You Need a Car Accident Lawyer?
After you’ve been in a car accident involving a drunk driver, you might be wondering what your next step is in order to recover compensation. Furthermore, after learning another driver was drunk, you likely want to hold the driver accountable.
The personal injury lawyers at Munley Law understand that accident victims must prioritize mental and physical health, not a lengthy dispute with an insurance company or a messy court case. An experienced Bethlehem drunk driving accident attorney can help you move forward by taking the weight off of your shoulders while you focus on getting better.
Our lawyers can:
Investigate Your Car Accident
Our drunk driving accident lawyers work with investigators, police, and professional reconstructionists to understand exactly what happened in your crash. We collect important evidence including photos from the crash scene, witness statements, surveillance footage, cell phone records, and more.
In drunk driving cases, this is especially important, given we must prove that the negligent driver was in fact drunk. This can involve testimony from witnesses who saw the driver on the road, from the evidence that the driver drank earlier in the day, for example, bar tabs or witnesses who saw the driver drinking, or even from testing done by police officers on the scene.
Prove Negligence
In order to win, your Bethlehem car accident attorneys must prove negligence. There are four elements:
- Duty – The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care. In car accident cases, all drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles in a reasonably careful manner and to follow the rules of the road.
- Breach – We must demonstrate that the defendant breached their duty by breaking the law and/or behaving recklessly.
- Causation – We must then show that the defendant’s actions resulted in a crash that caused you to suffer injuries.
- Damages – Finally, we must prove that you suffered economic and noneconomic damages as a result of your injuries.
Negotiate with the Insurance Company
The drunk driving accident lawyers at Munley Law have decades of experience fighting against insurance companies who would attempt to settle claims for less than what victims deserve. We will negotiate with them on your behalf, and we will never accept an offer of settlement without your consent.
Fight for You at Trial
If the defendant’s insurance refuses to agree to an appropriate settlement, we have no problem taking your case to trial. Our attorneys are experienced courtroom advocates and we will be fully prepared to present your case to a jury.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
At Munley Law, we believe all people should have equal access to the justice system, regardless of income. That’s why our drunk driving accident lawyers do not charge a fee for our services unless we win your case. We cover all the upfront costs so that you don’t have to pay anything out of pocket. Our contingency fee (a percentage of the car accident settlement or verdict we obtain for you) will never exceed the total amount paid to you by the drunk driver.
If we are unable to produce results for you after a drunk driving accident, you owe us nothing.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover After a Bethlehem Drunk Driving Accident?
Compensation after a Bethlehem drunk driving accident can include both economic and non-economic damages. While the drunk driving accident lawyers at Munley Law can help explain exactly how much is at issue in your case, generally speaking, victims may be able to recover
- Present and future medical bills
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of daily activities
- Loss of consortium/ loss of companionship
- In rare cases, punitive damages.
How Do I Protect My Claim Following an Accident Involving a Drunk Driver in Bethlehem?
What you do after a car accident is important in proving fault for your car accident case. Here are a few things to keep in mind to protect your claim:
- Request a copy of the accident report. The police report will have a lot of helpful information. The police report will also give the opinions of the police as to what happened and who may be at fault. Be sure to write down which police department responds and the names of any officers at the scene. It can be helpful if you cannot immediately get a copy of the police report.
- Contact your own insurance company. Even if you weren’t at fault or if it’s a minor car accident, you must contact your insurance company to let it know you were in a car accident that involved injuries.
- Keep a record of all expenses after the accident. You should keep track of medical expenses, time off from work, and property damage.
- Make all your medical appointments.
- Don’t accept a settlement offer (or talk to anyone about the accident) without speaking to us.
Why Choose Munley Law for Your Personal Injury Case?
With so many personal injury law firms to choose from, how do you know who you can trust to fight for you and your family? Munley Law sets itself apart, and we’re ready to prove it to you. Here are just a few reasons to let us fight for you and your family:
Experience – When it comes to a drunk driving accident claim, experience counts. Each of our partners has decades of experience representing individuals and families who have suffered serious injury or been denied benefits following an injury. Because we are a family firm, we often work closely together on our cases to achieve the best possible results for you.
Industry Leaders – The board-certified attorneys at Munley Law are among the highest-rated and most respected legal advocates in the country. All of our credentials (including Best Lawyers in America, Best Law Firms, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, Million Dollar Advocates Forum) reflect the extremely high standards we’ve set for ourselves, and the recognition of our clients and peers.
Resources – Successfully recovering money after a Bethlehem drunk driving accident is challenging. At Munley Law, we have access to resources that are typically available only to big law firms. We work closely with our network of engineers, investigators, experts, and in-house medical personnel to build your case. What’s more, unlike at other law firms, you aren’t on the hook for paying these professionals out of pocket.
Our No-Fee Promise – We do not collect a fee unless we win your case. If we do not produce results for you, you owe us nothing. Also, at no point will you ever pay anything out of pocket; even when we win, our fee comes out of the money we recover for you.
You can contact our attorneys by phone or by using the form or chat feature available on our website. Contacting us is free, and doesn’t obligate you to do anything. But the first step to getting you the recovery you deserve is to speak with one of your Bethlehem drunk driving accident lawyers, who are ready to get results for you.
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