Long Beach Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

A Voice for Drunk Driving Accident Victims

Carolyn, a car accident client of the firm.

A drunk driving accident can happen anytime - weekends, holidays, middle of the night. Surprisingly, many of our clients who were hit by a drunk driver were headed to work in the morning when they were struck. With the easy availability of Uber and Lyft, one would expect a reduction in the number of drunk drivers on the road. Unfortunately, we have not seen that to be the case. If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver, it is vital that you seek assistance from a Long Beach personal injury attorney.

Contact us online or by calling (562) 270-0546 today!

How Common Is Drunk Driving In California?

According to statistics published by the California DMV:

• Over 123,500 people were arrested for DUI in California in 2017
• In 2016 over 11,000 people were convicted of alcohol or drug-related reckless driving
• In 2017 there were nearly 1,300 alcohol-involved crash fatalities; in the same year there were nearly 27,000 alcohol-related crash injuries
• Of the total number of crash fatalities in 2017, over 33% involved alcohol, while nearly 10% of all crash injuries in the same year were alcohol-related

Why Hire a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Long Beach

A drunk driver's perceptions are impaired. He or she does not have the same instincts that a sober driver has, or the normal reaction time. Due to the impairment, an accident caused by a drunk driver can be much worse than that of a regular car accident. The drunk driver may ram your car from behind, run a red light and T-bone your car, or swerve into your lane on the freeway. These unfortunate collisions can result in severe and life-threatening injuries or fatalities. Head-on collisions, which are most likely to cause fatalities, can happen when an impaired driver crosses the center line into oncoming traffic.

Beyond the immediate impact, a collision with an impaired motorist often creates long-term medical, financial, and emotional challenges for the injured person and their family. Victims may need emergency treatment at local facilities such as Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, ongoing physical therapy, and time away from work, all while facing aggressive insurance adjusters who may try to minimize their claims. Working with a drunk driving accident attorney can help level the playing field by organizing evidence, documenting your injuries, and presenting a clear picture of how the crash has changed your life.

In many Long Beach drunk driving cases, there may also be additional sources of compensation that are not obvious at first glance. Depending on the facts, responsibility can extend to bars, restaurants, or social hosts that overserved a driver, or to employers when a drunk worker causes a crash while on the job. A drunk driving accident lawyer Long Beach victims trust can investigate these angles, obtain police reports from agencies such as the Long Beach Police Department or California Highway Patrol, and coordinate with medical and economic professionals to help pursue full and fair compensation.

What To Do After a Drunk Driving Crash in Long Beach

After a collision with a suspected drunk driver in Long Beach, the steps you take in the hours and days that follow can affect both your health and any future injury claim. Your first priority should always be safety and medical care, even if you feel “okay” at the scene, because many injuries become more apparent over time. When it is safe to do so, try to gather basic information such as the other driver’s name, license plate, insurance details, and contact information for any witnesses who stopped to help. Calling law enforcement to the scene is also important so that agencies like the Long Beach Police Department or California Highway Patrol can investigate and prepare a formal report.

Once you have received initial medical attention, it is wise to avoid speaking in detail with the drunk driver’s insurance company until you have obtained legal guidance. Insurers sometimes move quickly to take recorded statements or offer early settlements that do not reflect the full scope of your medical needs, lost income, or ongoing pain. Keeping copies of hospital records, photographs of the scene along major routes such as Pacific Coast Highway or the 405 freeway, and notes about how your injuries affect your daily routines will help create a clear record of what you are going through. Consulting a Long Beach Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer early allows you to understand your options before signing any paperwork or agreeing to resolve your claim.