Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Decatur, Alabama

Safety advocates, state officials, and concerned parents have spent decades trying to curb the problem of drunk driving accidents in Alabama. Unfortunately, too many drivers in Decatur and across Alabama continue to get behind the wheel when intoxicated, and other people often pay the price of their recklessness.

Drunk driving accidents impact thousands of lives yearly in Decatur and across the state, leaving victims with severe injuries, expensive medical bills, and years of psychological distress.

The Decatur car accident attorneys at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., can help if you have been hurt in a car crash caused by an intoxicated motorist. Our lawyers have won more than $125 million in compensation for our clients since our firm was founded in 1966. We have seen how drunk driving collisions can ruin lives, and we are committed to holding those at fault accountable for their actions.

Contact us today for a free consultation with a drunk driving car accident lawyer in Decatur, AL.

Alabama Laws and Statistics on Drunk Driving

Alabama has clear laws to deter drivers from getting behind the wheel while impaired by alcohol. Any driver caught with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher is presumed to be intoxicated and can be charged with DUI. A first-time DUI conviction can result in a jail sentence of up to a year, a fine of up to $2,100, or both.

A BAC of 0.08 percent is not a prerequisite to a charge of DUI in Alabama. A driver can be charged with DUI if they are intoxicated to any degree and cannot safely drive their vehicle, regardless of their BAC level. Furthermore, the legal limit for commercial drivers is 0.04 percent, while the legal limit for drivers under age 21 is 0.02 percent.

Despite all the warnings and public safety campaigns to discourage drunk driving, these accidents remain a serious problem in Alabama. The Alabama Department of Transportation reported more than 5,100 crashes in which alcohol or drugs were a factor in one recent year, resulting in 158 fatalities. The DOT also states the fatality rate for impaired driving accidents is more than five times higher than the general crash fatality rate.

Why You Need an Attorney If You Are A Victim of a DUI Wreck in Decatur

If a drunk driver in Decatur hurt you, you deserve to be compensated for the harm they caused you. However, getting this compensation can be difficult without the help of an experienced lawyer.

Our Alabama drunk driving accident attorneys can help you with your case by:

• Identifying all the liable parties – While the drunk driver is the person most responsible for your injuries, they may not be the only party to blame. For example, bars, liquor stores, restaurants, and other vendors could also be liable for a crash in certain circumstances, as can social hosts. Our DUI accident victim attorneys can review your case to determine every party who could owe you compensation.
• Documenting all your injuries and losses – Drunk driving accidents impact victims in many ways, resulting in many compensable losses. These include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, property damage, and more. Our drunk driving accident lawyers can review your case and document all the losses for which you can be compensated.
• Finding evidence to establish liability – Before you can get compensation for a drunk driving crash, you need evidence showing the other driver was at fault. Our experienced personal injury attorneys can use police reports, eyewitness accounts, crash scene photos, and other evidence to build your case.
• Filing your claim – Lawsuits involve a lot of paperwork and bureaucratic red tape. Our lawyers can review all your documents before submitting them to avoid potentially costly mistakes.
• Negotiating for a reasonable insurance settlement – Insurance companies have a profit motive and want to pay as little as possible when settling a claim. They employ many tactics to avoid responsibility for a crash and reduce the value of your settlement. Our attorneys are prepared to fight back against these tactics and negotiate a settlement that reflects the full extent of your losses.
• Bringing your case to court – Most drunk driving cases end in an out-of-court settlement. But if an insurance company refuses to negotiate in good faith, you may need to take them to court to secure the money you need. The stakes of a trial are high because a court’s ruling is binding. You should never begin a civil court case without representation from an experienced drunk-driving lawyer.

Common Injuries Sustained in a Decatur Drunk Driving Wreck

Drunk driving wrecks in Decatur frequently cause catastrophic injuries, including:

How Does the Alabama Dram Shop Law Affect My Case?

Drunk drivers should be held accountable for their negligence, but they are not necessarily the only ones responsible for the crashes they cause. Under Alabama’s dram shop law, alcohol vendors like bars, restaurants, and liquor stores can be held liable for a collision if they served someone who was visibly intoxicated or underaged.

Our attorneys will explore every potential avenue for recovery, including determining whether a retail outlet or social host could be partially liable for your injuries.

Damages Available for Drunk Driving Victims in Decatur

A drunk driving accident can take a toll on every aspect of your life. You deserve to be compensated accordingly.

Our Decatur drunk driving accident lawyers can help you pursue money for:

Contact Our Decatur Car Accident Lawyers Today

The team at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., is ready to fight for your rights and help you demand compensation for the harm you suffered through no fault of your own. Call us today or visit our contact page for a free, no-obligation case review with one of our Decatur drunk driving accident lawyers.