Santa Monica Drunk Driving Accident Attorney

Hit by a Drunk Driver?

Our Santa Monica personal injury law firm receives all too many calls from victims who have been struck by drunk drivers in or around West LA. Whether you are a pedestrian, a bicyclist, or a motorist who has been hit by a drunk driver, or whether you are the family member of a loved one who has been killed by a drunk driver, you should speak to a local car accident attorney to learn about your rights and the issues involved.

Contact our Santa Monica drunk driving accident lawyer by calling (310) 692-9582 today!

What to Do After a Drunk Driving Accident?

After a drunk driving crash, you should focus on a few key steps:

• Get medical attention as soon as possible, even if you think your injuries are minor, so that conditions like concussions or soft-tissue injuries are properly documented.
• Report the collision to law enforcement and make sure you obtain the incident number so a formal report can later be requested and reviewed.
• Gather evidence at the scene when it is safe, including photos of vehicle damage, road conditions, visible injuries, and contact information for any witnesses.
• Avoid admissions of fault or detailed discussions about the crash with the other driver or insurance adjusters before you have spoken with an attorney.
• Consult a Santa Monica drunk driving accident attorney promptly so you understand your legal options, deadlines, and how to protect the value of your claim.

Why you need a Santa Monica Car Accident Lawyer after being Hit by a Drunk Driver

The criminal justice system will deal with the criminal prosecution of the drunk driver. A personal injury attorney is the one you turn to in order to receive financial compensation for the injuries and losses you have suffered after being struck by a drunk driver. A personal injury lawyer will demand that you and your family are paid for your medical bills (past and future), your lost earnings, your property damage, and your pain and suffering. We cannot return your prior good health, but we can get you compensation for the bills you have incurred and the pain you have suffered.

An experienced Santa Monica Drunk Driving Accident Attorney can also help you understand how the criminal case and the civil claim may affect one another over time. For example, a guilty plea or conviction in Los Angeles County Superior Court can sometimes support your civil claim for liability, but you do not need to wait for the criminal process to finish before pursuing compensation. We can coordinate with any ongoing criminal proceedings while still moving your injury claim forward, helping you make informed choices about statements, victim impact participation, and restitution requests.

Does the Drunk Driver have Car Insurance?

Unless you were provided with the drunk driver's insurance information at the scene of the crash, you may have to wait until the police report is ready to find out if the driver had car insurance. It is often the case that a drunk driver has no auto insurance. What do you do if you are hit by a drunk driver who had no auto insurance? You can make an uninsured motorist claim under your own car insurance policy if you have uninsured motorist coverage. This is true even if you were a pedestrian or a bike rider that was hit by a drunk driver.

• Checklist of the information we’ll ask for during your initial car accident consultation.

The activist organization, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), reports that many people will be involved in an alcohol-related car crash at some point in their lives. Countless lives have been lost to the gross negligence of an individual who got behind the wheel of their car after having too much to drink. Too often, an accident involving a drunk driver results in injury or death to an innocent victim. When a driver enters the roadway intoxicated, they are putting others in danger and leaving those victims with little means of warning and protection.

Furthermore, since the car accident was caused because of a particularly malicious act on the part of the at-fault driver, you will likely receive added compensation in the form of punitive damages. Punitive damages are a part of personal injury claims that involve malicious, illegal or grossly negligent behavior. While they are meant as a means of punishment for the at-fault party, they are ultimately added to the total award given to the victim. That means that you can receive those punitive damages in the form of compensation to help in your recovery.

At McGee Lerer Ogrin, our experience is that accidents involving drunk drivers can result in the most serious injuries. We understand that drunk driving accidents are some of the hardest experiences to go through. If you were recently injured in a drunk driving accident, we want to help you recover the compensation that you deserve. 

Call a Santa Monica drunk driving accident attorney from our firm today at (310) 692-9582 and discuss your case and your options for taking legal action.