A Bethlehem drunk driving accident lawyer can help you seek compensation after being involved in an accident caused by an impaired driver in Lehigh or Northampton County. Drunk driving crashes often cause serious injuries and emotional trauma, leaving victims facing medical bills, lost income, and uncertainty about their next steps.
Driving under the influence is a reckless and illegal choice that puts everyone on the road at risk. Alcohol impairs judgment, slows reaction time, and scrambles a person’s coordination, making drunk driving accidents especially dangerous. When these crashes occur, Pennsylvania law allows victims to hold negligent drivers accountable.
Our car accident lawyers are well-equipped to assist you in recovering compensation. Munley Law has nearly seven decades of experience representing drunk driving accident victims in Bethlehem and throughout Pennsylvania. Our nationally recognized trial lawyers have the resources to prove intoxication, challenge insurance companies, and fight for compensation—without charging any fees unless we win your case.
Why Do You Need a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 12,429 people died on U.S. roads in 2023. That equates to 34 people dying every day, and one every 42 minutes, for the simple reason that drunk individuals get behind the wheel, despite the laws and policies in place to prevent unnecessary traffic injuries and deaths.
In 2024, Northampton County recorded 756 DUI cases involving drugs and/or alcohol, while Lehigh County recorded 1,751. Although these figures are not limited to drunk-driving incidents, impaired driving remains one of the most significant threats to road safety in Bethlehem and the surrounding communities.
From 2020 to 2024, PennDOT recorded a total of 16 alcohol-related fatalities in Northampton County, while Lehigh County recorded 42 alcohol-related fatalities in the same period.
The number of people impacted only increases when we consider accidents involving serious injury but no death, and it is sometimes difficult to get a full picture of the number of accidents caused by alcohol.
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.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 How Our Drunk Driving Attorneys Can Help
In the aftermath of a drunk driving crash, 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 at Munley Law can help you move forward by keeping your case on track and taking the weight off your shoulders while you focus on improving.
Our lawyers will:
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, and cell phone records.
In drunk driving cases, this is especially important, given that we must prove that the negligent driver was, in fact, drunk. This can involve testimony from witnesses who saw the driver on the road operating their vehicle in a distracted or unsafe manner, evidence that the driver drank earlier in the day, for example, bar tabs, witnesses who saw the driver drinking, or even from testing done by police officers on the scene.
Prove Negligence
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 reasonably carefully and 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 non-economic damages due to your injuries.
Negotiate with the Insurance Company
The drunk driving accident lawyers at Munley Law have decades of experience fighting against insurance companies that 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 cannot take 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 everyone 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 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 for a minor car accident, you must contact your insurance company to let it know you were in a car accident involving injuries.
- Keep a record of all expenses after the accident. You should keep track of medical expenses, time off from work, and property damage.
- Attend and document all your medical appointments.
- Contact a drunk driving accident lawyer. Munley Law offers a free initial consultation to discuss your case.
- 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. Our team of legal experts specializes in handling a wide range of cases, including accidents caused by hit and run collisions, distracted or drowsy drivers, and drunk driving incidents.
Each of our partners has extensive experience representing individuals and families who have suffered the severe consequences of such accidents.
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 country’s highest-rated and most respected legal advocates. Our credentials (including Best Lawyers in America, Best Law Firms, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, and 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 can access resources 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. Moreover, unlike 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 from the money we recover for you.
FAQs About Drunk Driving Accidents in Bethlehem
What is Considered Drunk Driving under Pennsylvania Law?
In Pennsylvania, a driver is legally impaired with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. Lower limits apply to commercial drivers and anyone under 21.
Can I Sue a Drunk Driver Even if They Were Arrested?
Yes. A criminal DUI case is separate from a civil injury claim. You can pursue compensation for your injuries regardless of whether the driver was convicted.
How Long Do I Have to File a Drunk Driving Accident Claim in Bethlehem?
In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for most drunk driving accident injury claims is two years from the date of the crash under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524. If you do not file a personal injury lawsuit within the applicable deadline, you may lose the right to pursue compensation through the courts. However, different rules can apply when the injured person is a minor. In many cases, the statute of limitations is tolled until the child turns 18, giving them until age 20 to file a personal injury lawsuit.
What If the Drunk Driver Was Underinsured or Uninsured?
You may still recover compensation through your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, depending on your policy. A lawyer can review all available options.
Can Alcohol Establish Automatic Fault in a Car Accident Case?
Alcohol use strongly supports negligence, but liability must still be proven. Evidence such as BAC results, police reports, and witness statements is critical.
Are Drunk Driving Accident Claims Worth More Than Other Car Accident Cases?
Not necessarily. Every car accident claim is evaluated based on its own facts, including the severity of the injuries, the available insurance coverage, and the evidence involved. However, because drunk driving may constitute particularly reckless conduct, some cases may support a claim for punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages. Whether additional damages are available depends on the specific circumstances of the case.
What If I Were Hit by a Drunk Driver in Bethlehem While Walking or Biking?
You can still file a personal injury claim. Drunk driving laws apply regardless of whether the victim was in a vehicle, on a bike, or on foot.
Should I Talk to the Insurance Company After a Drunk Driving Crash?
Not without legal advice. Insurance adjusters may try to minimize your claim, even in drunk driving cases. Speaking to a lawyer first helps protect your rights.
Contact Munley Law for Your Bethlehem Drunk Driving Accident Case
Our car accident attorneys have the experience, expertise, and resources to handle any drunk driving accident case. At Munley Law, we understand the trauma caused by such crashes and will fight for our clients in Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley to optimize the benefits they are entitled to.
You can contact our attorneys by phone, using our contact form, or through our chat feature. 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.
James Christopher Munley
James Christopher Munley is a multi-award winning auto accident lawyer and advocate for auto accident plaintiffs. Chris has been named to Best Lawyers in America since 2012, and was also named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer the following year in 2013. Alongside this, he was named to the Top 25 Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association. Chris has helped in the recovery of millions in damages for auto accident victims, including notable cases such as a $17.5 million jury verdict for a teen death caused by a car accident, and a $6.9 Million Settlement when a garbage truck crashed into a car.
