Hit by a Drunk Driver in New Jersey?
File a Personal Injury Lawsuit with a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
Driving while intoxicated is illegal throughout the United States, but the law does not always prevent drunk driving accidents. Drivers who cause serious injuries and wrongful death due to driving under the influence of alcohol usually face criminal charges. While a criminal case may punish an offender, criminal proceedings do not help the victims of the car crash. However, accident victims may file a civil lawsuit against the drunk driver to recover compensation for their injuries and damages or the wrongful death of a loved one.
A drunk driving accident lawyer from Keefe Law Firm can assist you in filing this kind of personal injury lawsuit. Our attorneys have decades of combined experience, and we have helped many families throughout New Jersey get the compensation they need to start putting their lives back together after drunk driving accidents. For example, in one case our law firm represented the estate of a young victim of a fatal drunk driving accident. We were able to settle this lawsuit for an undisclosed sum during arbitration.
When Can I File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Drunk Driving Accident?
A personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against a drunk driver can and should begin as soon as possible after the accident. It is important to realize that prosecutors and district attorneys in criminal court do not represent victims of drunk driving accidents. Victims should not wait until the criminal case has concluded before reaching out to a civil attorney. Furthermore, even if the drunk driver is not criminally charged or if he or she is found “not guilty” of any crime, a victim can and should still file a lawsuit against the drunk driver in civil court.
State and National Statistics on Drunk Driving Accidents
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 10,000 Americans die in drunk driving accidents annually. Additionally, nearly 200 of these deaths occur in New Jersey. Other important drunk driving statistics include:
- U.S. residents report 121 million instances of drunk driving each year. However, law enforcement officers make only about 1.1 million drunk driving arrests, or just 1 percent of all offenders.
- On average, 16 percent of all auto accidents involved drug or alcohol intoxication. However, 31 percent of all fatal car crashes involve intoxicated drivers.
- 59 percent of drunk driving accidents include people between the ages of 21 and 34.
- Nearly 30 percent of all fatal motorcycle accidents involve alcohol.
- In New Jersey, drunk drivers cause nearly 30 percent of all fatal auto accidents.
- Approximately a third of all drunk driving arrests involve a repeat offender.
- You are four times more likely to be in a car accident with a drunk driver at night.
Questions? Call a NJ Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Today
If you are suffering from serious injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one after a drunk driving accident, you may be able to get compensation to cover your medical bills and other expenses. A New Jersey drunk driving accident lawyer can represent you in a personal injury lawsuit separate from any criminal proceedings. If you need legal advice after being hit by a drunk driver, the attorneys at Keefe Law Firm can answer your questions, free of charge.
Contact us online or call (732) 224-9400 to set up a free consultation today. We handle cases from across New Jersey from our offices in Red Bank, New Brunswick and Newark.