Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Huntsville

Drunk driving is a serious problem in Alabama. Nearly a third of all fatal crashes on Alabama roads involve intoxicated drivers. Alcohol-related driving accidents took the lives of 247 people in Alabama in 2015, and all of those were preventable deaths.

Drunk drivers are potentially liable for the injuries they cause in car accidents and other motor vehicle accidents. The bar or restaurant that sold or served them alcohol may be liable as well. Alabama has dram shop laws that hold bars, restaurants and other establishments liable when they sell or serve alcohol to a person who is either already visibly intoxicated or under the age of 21. Our attorneys have a thorough understanding of Alabama personal injury law pertaining to drunk driving accidents. We advocate aggressively for victims of drunk drivers.

At Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., our compassionate drunk driving attorneys understand how a drunk driving accident can devastate a family and leave people unsure how to start rebuilding their lives. An important first step is to understand your legal rights. Choosing the right lawyer may be one of the most important decisions you ever make if your future depends on the outcome of your accident claim. If you or your loved one has been harmed in an alcohol-related car accident contact a Huntsville car accident lawyer at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., to discuss your legal options and how we may help during a courtesy consultation.

The legal team at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., has obtained more than $100 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients including $5.1 million in compensation in a wrongful death case caused by a drunk driver. Each accident case stands on its own, but we are proud of the results we have achieved for many Alabamians. You can rely upon the knowledge and experience of Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., Contact us now for a free consultation.

How Our Huntsville Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Can Help

If you were seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident involving an intoxicated driver, regaining your health should be your first priority. We know how a drunk driving accident can turn lives upside down, and we are committed and experienced in bringing these cases for the victims of drunk drivers.

While you recover, we will investigate the contributing factors to the accident that caused your injuries and determine who was at fault and potentially liable. We will conduct a full investigation of the accident scene, obtain toxicology and medical reports, interview witnesses, and take photos of the vehicles involved. If the intoxicated driver was driving as part of his or her job when the accident occurred, the driver’s employer may be liable as well. There’s no excuse for getting behind the wheel after drinking when so many rideshare services in Huntsville like Uber are only minutes away.

We also can assist you in finding the best available medical care if you need additional treatment and arrange with your healthcare providers for the payment of your medical bills to be postponed until your lawsuit is settled.

We will calculate your losses related to your car accident injuries in Huntsville including medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, lost wages, and future lost wages if you cannot return to work. Suppose you have catastrophic injuries as a result of the accident and will have limited mobility. In that case, we may hire a financial planner to estimate the lifetime costs of your disability and remodeling of your home to accommodate your disability. We will submit a claim to the insurance provider representing the at-fault party and negotiate aggressively for full compensation for your losses while you concentrate on your health and recovery.

Insurance companies frequently settle accident claims involving alcohol-related injuries because they do not wish to have to defend a drunk driver’s reckless actions before a jury. If the insurance company refuses to agree to a just settlement, however, we will file a civil lawsuit in the appropriate Alabama civil court and pursue justice for you and your family. We have Alabama trial attorneys with more than 100 years of collective experience and a strong record of success.

Facts about Drinking and Driving in Huntsville, Alabama

More Likely to Crash

Drivers with a breath alcohol level of .08, the legal limit in Alabama, are about four times more likely to have a wreck than sober drivers, according to a new study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

One of Every Three Fatal Accidents

32 percent of all traffic deaths in Alabama in the recent years involved an intoxicated driver with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher.

Close to Home

Madison County had 33 traffic fatalities and 11 were alcohol-related, according to Alabama Crash Facts 2014.

Saturday and Sunday

Days of the week with the highest portion of drunk drivers involved in fatal accidents in Alabama.

Higher than the National Average:

Alabama’s rate of alcohol-related fatal accidents based on vehicle miles traveled.

2,657

A number of people who sustained injuries in alcohol-related accidents in Alabama in recent years.

Drivers ages 20 to 24

The age group with the largest portion of DUI drivers involved in accidents in Alabama.

Pickup truck drivers had the highest percentage of alcohol impairment among all drivers involved in deadly accidents based on national traffic data from 2009-2014. Twenty-four percent of pickup truck drivers involved in fatal crashes in Huntsville were intoxicated compared to 22 percent of automobile drivers and 12 percent of van drivers.

Drinking and Driving Charges in Huntsville

Under Alabama law, it is illegal to drive or be in physical control of a vehicle under the following conditions:

• A driver whose blood contains .08 percent or more concentration of alcohol;
• A person under the influence of a drug to the extent that it makes him or her incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle;
• Commercial truck drivers whose blood alcohol concentration is .04 percent or higher;
• Young drivers whose blood alcohol concentration is .02 percent or higher;
• School bus drivers and daycare drivers whose blood alcohol content is .02 percent or higher.

Consumption of alcohol slows a driver’s reactions to changing traffic conditions, affects judgment and concentration, reduces alertness, and may affect vision and speech.

A driver charged with Driving Under the Influence who refuses to submit to a chemical breath test when directed by a law officer shall have his or her driver’s license suspended. The driver may face criminal prosecution for driving under the influence. Upon a first conviction of driving under the influence, a drunk driver faces a fine of $600 to $2,100, a driver’s license suspension, and up to a year in jail. The penalties for second and subsequent convictions of driving under the influence are more severe.

Why A DUI Accident Victim Should Explore an Injury Claim

A DUI conviction may get a drunk driver off Alabama roads for a period of time. However, a criminal conviction will not provide any restitution for an accident victim injured by a drunk driver or the family of a person killed by a drunk driver. The victim of a drunk driver will need to file a separate civil lawsuit seeking to hold the drunk driver liable for the harm caused. A civil lawsuit is handled separately from any criminal proceedings involving a driver charged with driving under the influence. If the drunk driver was driving in the scope of their employment, an injury victim may also have a claim against the at-fault driver’s employer. In some cases, a DUI accident victim may have an injury claim under Alabama’s dram shop law against a bar, tavern, or another establishment that sold alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person or a person under age 21. Bringing a successful claim under the dram shop laws requires finding eyewitnesses who saw alcohol being served and can give testimony that the person appeared visibly intoxicated. There are time limits for making these claims so hiring an attorney promptly is critical.

Alabama Dram Shop Laws Apply to a Variety of Establishments

Bars, taverns, restaurants, and other establishments that serve alcohol have a legal responsibility to the public not to sell or serve alcohol to someone who is already intoxicated and is likely to cause a serious accident. They may also be held liable when they sell or serve alcohol to young people who are not of legal age to consume alcohol.

The Dram Shop laws apply to:

Under certain circumstances, there may be “social host” liability for those who host a house party and knowingly furnish alcohol to party guests who are minors under the legal drinking age.

What Compensation Can Victims of Drunk Driving Accidents Recover?

If your drunk driving accident liability claim is successful, you may be able to recover compensation for

Alabama law limits the amount of time that people who are injured or who have lost loved ones have to file legal actions against those responsible for the accidents. It is important to speak with a knowledgeable lawyer right away so the lawyer can start investigating the accident and preserving evidence before it is lost.

Contact a Huntsville Drunk Driving Injury Attorney Now!

Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., based in Huntsville, Alabama, handles personal injury claims related to drunk driving accidents in counties and cities throughout Alabama. We have helped many Alabamians get back on their feet after a serious injury, and we would like to help you.

Please call our experienced drunk driving accident attorney in Huntsville or complete our quick contact web form. We will answer your questions and discuss your legal options during a courtesy consultation.

The initial consultation to discuss your accident claim is free. If we handle your drunk driving accident injury claim, we will take the case on a contingency fee basis. You will not owe any fees or costs unless we obtain money for you.