There are many reasons why car accident victims choose to seek legal counsel from a trustworthy DWI lawyer Alexandria VA has to offer. It’s illegal in every state for drivers to operate a motor vehicle while they are intoxicated — but that doesn’t always keep drivers from doing this. Unfortunately this can lead to car accidents where innocent victims may experience substantial injuries.
At Cohen & Cohen, we know that these personal injury cases may be incredibly difficult for our clients to manage on their own. Even though it’s not absolutely necessary to hire a DWI lawyer Alexandria VA can provide before filing an insurance claim or a civil suit, there are many reasons why it may be beneficial to do so.
DWI Accidents: The Prevalence and Severity of Driving While Intoxicated
Each state has its own laws that regulate driving restrictions, but in each of the 50 states (and in Washington DC) it is illegal to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) level of .08% or above. Many states, similar to Virginia, have further restrictions on consuming alcohol before getting behind the wheel of a car or truck. Commercial truck drivers typically cannot drive with a BAC level of .04% or above, and drivers under the age of 21 may not be allowed any amount of alcohol in their system.
Despite all of these restrictions, if you’re looking for a DWI lawyer Alexandria VA trusts, you probably already know that some drivers still make poor decisions when it comes to drinking and driving. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you may be facing significant personal injuries as well as financial losses.
It’s estimated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that more than 20 people are killed every single day in accidents caused by drunk drivers. This comprises nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities in the average year in the United States. Victims of DWI accidents can be other drivers but they may also be passengers — many of whom are even young children.
The true cost of drunk driving accidents, as any seasoned DWI lawyer Alexandria VA may supply could attest, is virtually impossible to calculate. The cost of medical bills and property damage may be measured easily but non-economic costs, such as lost productivity and lost enjoyment of life, are not always measured so easily. The loss of a human life in a drunk driving accident truly is impossible to measure, as families of these victims would know all too well. A financial settlement is by no means a way of repaying these losses; rather, it’s a way for accident victims and their families to remain financially stable while they focus on recovering. A settlement after a tragic drunk driving accident might also help families recover knowing that the driver responsible has been held accountable.
Drunk Driving Injuries and Financial Compensation
If you’re seeking legal counsel from a DWI lawyer in Alexandria VA following a drunk driving accident, you may be looking for ways of obtaining financial compensation. Some people initially assume that they will have to go to court to win a settlement after a drunk driving accident, since DWI is considered a criminal offense.
However, the victims of drunk driving accidents need not be too concerned with criminal proceedings — although they may wish to testify in the liable driver’s court trial if this opportunity presents itself. The victim of a car accident may have several different ways to seek financial compensation, although state laws could restrict the options available. These restrictions may differ depending on insurance laws in your state, particularly when a state operates based on “no fault” insurance policies.
Accident victims might first seek compensation through an insurance claim. It is not necessary to hire a DWI lawyer Alexandria VA residents turn to if you choose to pursue this option, but it may still be beneficial. Insurance companies are sometimes not willing to cover the costs of a drunk driving accident because they may argue that the liable driver intentionally chose to engage in illegal driving behaviors. This doesn’t necessarily mean that these insurance providers are able to avoid costs altogether; however, a skilled Alexandria VA DWI lawyer could probably agree that this type of dispute may take a long time to resolve.
Another option for DWI accident victims is to pursue compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. It is important to be aware of your state laws as they pertain to car accidents and lawsuits because some states may restrict your ability to file a lawsuit. Common exceptions to this restriction typically affect cases where the accident victim suffered grievously and a fair settlement is far higher than what the insurer would normally agree to pay. In these cases, the assistance and legal counsel of a DWI lawyer Alexandria VA deserves could be invaluable.
Talk to a DWI Lawyer Alexandria VA Has To Offer
At Cohen & Cohen, we believe it’s essential for accident victims to have access to legal counsel from a dependable source. If you or someone you love has been injured in an alcohol-related accident, our firm may be able to help you collect the compensation you deserve. We understand that this may be a very difficult time. While no amount of money can possibly make up for personal injuries, a financial settlement may provide some stability to allow for healing.
If you are interested in more information about our lawyers or about how we have helped injured accident victims in the past, contact our local office today at (703) 548-4529 or by filling out a short contact form on our website. At Cohen & Cohen, we strive to provide the kind of dependable legal counsel that Virginia residents can rely upon even in the most difficult accident cases. If you need a DWI lawyer Alexandria VA residents trust, Cohen & Cohen should be your first call.
If you or someone you care about has been injured in an accident in Virginia involving a driver that was driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, DWI lawyers Alexandria, VA accident victims recommend, may be able to help.
Not only is driving while compromised by alcohol and/or drugs a crime, if someone was injured in the accident, the inebriated driver may be liable for expenses that are the result of the accident as well as for things such as the victim’s pain and suffering. In the horrific event that someone dies in an accident with someone driving while intoxicated (DWI) their surviving family members may also be entitled to compensation for expenses related to the accident as well as for things such as loss and grief.
When an accident with an influenced driver occurs in Alexandria, Virginia, the sooner the victim or their family calls DWI lawyers licensed in VA, the sooner they may be able to start protecting an accident victim and/or their family’s rights.
DWI Accidents in Virginia
Like every state in the U.S., Virginia has its own unique set of laws that are specific to accidents that occur here. Some states have laws that are similar to other states but these laws cannot be transferred over and used in other states. Every state in the U.S. has laws that restrict the amount of alcohol a person can have in their system and still be legal to drive.
In Virginia, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or above, for commercial truck drivers to drive with a BAC of 0.04% or above and drivers under the age of 21 are not allowed to have any amount of alcohol in their system.
If you were injured in an accident in Alexandria, VA, DWI injury lawyers may be able to fight for your legal rights so that you don’t have to.
DWI Criminal Charges vs. Civil Charges
It is a crime in Virginia to drive with a BAC above 0.08%. Only an officer of the state (i.e. of the government) can charge and convict someone with a crime. A criminal charge is different than being charged with liability for injuring someone through a civil claim. A person can be charged and tried by the state for driving while under the influence, and they can also be sued in a civil court by one or more victims that were injured and/or whose property was damaged.
Holding someone accountable for their negligent actions in a civil lawsuit not only can help a victim and their family with financial needs, but it may also help to prevent the negligent DWI driver from driving while under the influence and hurting someone else in the future.
Many people recommend that Alexandria, VA DWI accident victims and their families let a team of trustworthy lawyers shoulder their legal burdens, while the victim and/or their family focus on healing and moving on with their lives.
For highly rated DWI lawyers Alexandria, VA injury victims and their families can trust, contact Cohen & Cohen for a free case consultation and evaluation with no obligations.
