When people make a choice to drive while intoxicated by alcohol, they are placing their lives and the lives of those around them in danger. Despite significant efforts by government officials and private organizations to curb drunk driving in California, alcohol-related crashes remain a leading cause of injuries and death on the roadway each year. At the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg, our qualified team is here to help when you need a Los Angeles drunk driving accident attorney. Let us investigate your case and work to secure full compensation for your losses.
Drunk Driving Crashes Are Detrimental On The Roadways Of California
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, we can see that alcohol-impaired collisions resulted in 1,069 total fatalities on California roadways during the latest year of data we have available. These fatalities accounted for 30% of the overall traffic collision deaths across the state that year. During that same time frame, drunk driving crashes caused more than 27,000 total injuries. These are simply astounding statistics that show us just how much of a problem drunk driving remains on our roadways.
For those that do survive collisions caused by drunk drivers, it is not uncommon for them to sustain severe injuries. At the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg, our Los Angeles car accident lawyers regularly help clients who have sustained the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Open head wounds
- Spinal cord injuries with paralysis
- Other severe neck or back injury
- Broken or dislocated bones
- Severe lacerations or puncture wounds
- Internal organ damage or internal bleeding
- Amputations or crush injuries
Additionally, victims of drunk driving crash regularly sustain significant emotional and psychological trauma following a crash. This can include feelings of depression, fear, anxiety, sleeplessness, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Determining Liability Following A Los Angeles Drunk Driving Accident
You should work with a skilled attorney following a drunk driving crash in order to properly determine liability so you can obtain full compensation for your losses. A personal injury attorney will secure various types of evidence to prove the liability of the other party. This can include the following:
- Photographs were taken at the scene of the crash in
- Any video surveillance from nearby buildings, traffic cams, or dash cams
- Statements from eyewitnesses
- The police report
- Statements from any individual who saw the alleged negligent driver consuming alcohol
Additionally, an attorney will work with law enforcement officials and prosecutors to gather the evidence used in any criminal case against the defendant, including the results of field sobriety tests, blood alcohol content tests, and any traffic citations or criminal charges.
Los Angeles Deadline To File A Drunk Driving Accident Claim
Any victim of a drunk driving accident needs to be aware that they have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit against the alleged negligent driver. In California, all vehicle accident victims need to be aware that the state personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the day an injury occurs. If a government entity or employee causes the injury you must file a government claim within six months.
This statute of limitations deadline even applies to victims of drunk driving accidents. This means that accident victims must file a lawsuit against the alleged drunk driver within two years from the day the accident occurs, or they will not be able to recover any compensation for their losses.
However, we do want to point out that this deadline does not have anything to do with any timeframes set by the insurance carriers. In general, auto insurance carriers in California require that accidents be reported very soon after the incident occurs. If a drunk driving accident victim does not file a claim with their insurance carrier within a day or two after the crash, the insurance carrier could delay or deny the claim. We urge you to work with the Los Angeles drunk driving accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg to help ensure that you get your case filed on time.
How Much Compensation Is Available For Drunk Driving Accident Victims In Los Angeles?
There is no set amount of money available to victims of Los Angeles drunk driving accidents. At the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg, our attorneys examine the totality of the incident and work with trusted medical and economic experts to properly calculate our clients’ total losses. In general, we strive to recover both economic and non-economic compensation for each client. This can include coverage of:
- All post and future medical bills related to the drunk driving crash
- Any past and future lost income the victim incurs due to the incident
- Property damage expenses
- Any household out-of-pocket the victim incurs
- Post and future pain and suffering damages
- Post and future loss of quality of life damages
Additionally, our attorneys will also pursue possible punitive damages against the alleged drunk driver. Punitive damages are generally reserved for cases where the conduct of the driver was deemed to be malicious, despicable, outrageous by driving under the influence.
Call Our Los Angeles Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Today
If you or somebody you love has been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver in Los Angeles, contact the team at the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg for help with your case today. We pledge to conduct a complete investigation into the incident so we can obtain the compensation you deserve to have and make a full recovery. This includes coverage of your past and future medical expenses, past and future lost income if you cannot work, out-of-pocket expenses, damages for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and other non-economic damages, and more. When you need a Los Angeles drunk driving accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling 310-997-0904.
