Being injured by a drunk driver is a distressing and difficult experience. Drunk driving car accidents in Lake County are often serious and result in expensive medical bills and long periods away from work. If you were injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, you may be able to file a lawsuit to pursue financial compensation. A car crash attorney could help you determine the best path forward.
Can You Sue a Drunk Driver After a Crash?
Drunk drivers are subject to criminal penalties like fines, jail time, and being required to install ignition interlock devices on their cars. In addition to criminal penalties, drunk drivers may also owe civil damages to those they injure. If these injuries are serious, a person injured by a Lake County drunk driver has the option to file a car accident lawsuit.
Vehicle collision lawsuits are generally based on negligence. This means the injured person needs to prove that the other driver had a duty to act a certain way, failed to do so, and injured someone else because of this failure. Because drunk driving is illegal, drunk drivers are automatically assumed to be negligent. This allows the injured person’s lawyer to focus on proving the seriousness of the injuries rather than the cause of the accident.
What Compensation is Available in a Drunk Driving Case?
In a Lake County drunk driving case, the most common type of compensation the injured person might receive is called compensatory damages. This includes both economic and non-economic compensation.
Non-economic damages pay for intangible losses like emotional distress or pain and suffering. In contrast, economic damages are specific costs like medical bills and lost wages, such as short-term expenses like a hospital stay immediately after the accident. Longer-term expenses, such as ongoing physical therapy, are also part of economic damages. Damages can even cover lost future income if the accident causes a permanent disability.
Punitive damages, which are meant to punish the offender and deter future bad behavior, are relatively rare. However, these damages may be awarded in drunk driving cases when the responsible party either acted intentionally or recklessly disregarded others’ safety. Drunk drivers, especially repeat offenders, are likely to meet this standard. The state limits the amount of punitive damages to either $500,000 or three times the compensatory damages, whichever is larger. Punitive damages would be awarded in addition to economic and non-economic damages.
Discuss Your Injuries Caused by a Drunk Driver With an Attorney Today
Drunk driving car accidents in Lake County can lead to serious injuries and substantial medical bills. If you were injured by a drunk driver, you may be able to file a lawsuit and get financial compensation. This can help you pay the bills while you focus on recovering. Our lawyers are here to help guide you through the process and get the best possible outcome for your situation. Schedule a free consultation with Largey Law Firm today.
