A Tysons, VA DUI Lawyer Discusses Responsibility and Injury
When someone who negligently drives under the influence of alcohol or drugs injures another person, the injured person may be in need of a Tysons, VA DUI lawyer to try to hold the negligent driver accountable for their actions.
Virginia Drunk Driving Statistics
In the years 2003 – 2012, 2,613 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Virginia. This means that on average, over 260 Virginians die every year because of the negligence and reckless behavior of drunk drivers. In 2016, there were 7,482 alcohol-related automobile crashes in Virginia with 3,325 of these crashes resulting in injuries; and 3,905 of them resulting in property damage.
Alcohol-related crashes account for about 30% of all traffic fatalities in the state of Virginia.
When someone is injured in the United States because of someone else’s negligent or reckless actions, or when someone tragically dies because of this, the negligent party may be liable for damages they caused to the victim and/or their family. A good place to start to determine whether or not a DUI accident victim is entitled to compensation is with the help of a DUI lawyer in Tysons or anyplace else in Virginia, or with the help of a lawyer who is licensed to practice in the state where the accident occured.
Compensation for DUI Related Injuries
When someone is injured because of someone else’s negligence, malice or reckless behavior, or when someone dies as a result of this, the victim and/or their family may be entitled to compensation for expenses that are the result of the negligent person’s actions. This is typically done through a personal injury claim. Many people find it is easier and more efficient to seek compensation with the help of a personal injury lawyer who is experienced with successfully defending DUI accident victims and their families’ rights, rather than trying to do this on their own.
The following are some of the reasons people seek monetary compensation with the help of a Tysons, VA DUI lawyer:
- Property damages
- Medical expenses
- Hospitalizations, surgeries and treatments
- Loss of income
- Loss of childcare and/or household management
- Loss of benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of ability
- Loss of quality of life
- Funeral and burial or cremation costs
- Loss of consortium (spousal support)
- Loss of parental guidance
- Loss of retirement
- Pain and grieving
If your life has been changed for the worse because of a drunk driver causing an accident you were in, contact a DUI lawyer in Tysons, VA, or one who is in the state where the accident happened.
What You Should Do After an Accident with a Drunk Driver
Immediately following an accident with a drunk driver, you should call 911 for medical attention if anyone involved in the accident was hurt. If there is no need for 911, call for law enforcement officers to come to the scene.
Always stay at the scene of an accident until law enforcement officers tell you it is okay to go.
When possible, document as much of the accident as possible. This includes taking photos of the scene of the accident; recording what happened in the accident (this can be done in writing, a voice memo, or a video); when appropriate, get the names and contact information from other people involved in the accident as well as from anyone who witnessed the accident; and contact a personal injury lawyer who is qualified to defend the rights of DUI accident victims.
For a Tysons, VA DUI lawyer that Virginians can rely on, contact Cohen & Cohen for a free case evaluation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
