Phoenix DUI Accident Attorney
From the moment you get your driver’s license, you learn: “Don’t drink and drive.” The message is also plastered on billboards along the highway and emphasized in every high school driver’s ed course. However, some people still choose to get behind the wheel after having too much to drink. The results can be life-changing and extremely unfair to an innocent DUI crash victim.
If you suffered injuries because a drunk driver caused an accident, you could file a civil claim or lawsuit against the negligent driver. A Phoenix DUI accident attorney at Gallagher & Kennedy can provide the legal support you need while protecting your rights. We can prepare and file your claim, document your damages, and advocate for legal justice. Call us today for a complimentary case review.
Why Choose a Phoenix DUI Accident Attorney at Gallagher & Kennedy?
After an accident caused by a drunk driver, you will face many obstacles, starting with your medical recovery and ending with fighting for the legal damages you deserve. A Phoenix drunk driving accident attorney at Gallagher & Kennedy can help you navigate your legal issues while you focus on your medical concerns. When you need a tough legal advocate, you can trust our team to handle your personal injury case.
When you choose our Phoenix DUI injury attorneys, we will:
- Treat your drunk driving accident case like it’s our own case
- Fight for justice
- Advocate for fair compensation
- Offer peace of mind when you need it most
With over 210 years of collective experience, our attorneys know the ins and outs of the laws surrounding drunk driving accidents in Phoenix and across Arizona. Once we start working on your case, we will do everything possible to help you. By letting us focus on your claim, you can focus on recovering.
How We Help Drunk Driving Accident Injury Victims in Phoenix
When you’ve been injured in a drunk driving accident, you probably feel angry, confused, or afraid of what the future holds. We understand how these crashes can create a whirlwind of emotions. That’s why we want to serve as more than your lawyer. We want to be part of your support system, a team you can rely on in your time of need.
You can trust our DUI accident attorneys to:
- Investigate the drunk driving accident, your injuries, and the other party’s negligence
- Navigate any insurance-related issues that arise
- Speak to the other parties, lawyers, and insurance adjusters on your behalf
- Negotiate a fair settlement agreement
- Determine your economic and non-economic damages
- File your claim or
- File a lawsuit (if the other party refuses to settle)
How Long Do I Have To File a Drunk Driving Accident Claim in Phoenix?
In Arizona, you generally have two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. This window of opportunity starts from the date of the collision. Because of this tight deadline, you should consider your legal options as soon as possible. While we can manage your case’s deadlines, you must reach out to us quickly. Then, we can set your case in motion and build a compelling argument against the negligent party.
We Work on a Contingency Fee Basis
Our drunk driving accident attorneys do not charge upfront fees. Our payment is contingent on the outcome of your case. This means if we don’t recover compensation for you, we don’t request payment for our time and efforts.
Under this arrangement, you can expect other benefits, such as:
- Your initial consultation and case review is absolutely free
- We will finance your case’s consulting and filing costs
- You pay nothing upfront to retain our help
- Part of your settlement pays for our efforts
Contingency-based legal help is just one thing we can discuss during your free case review.
Since Your Initial Consultation With Our DUI Accident Law Firm is Free, You Have Nothing to Lose
To learn what it’s like to partner with our team, take a look at our testimonials, reviews, and entire website. You should also reach out to our team for a free consultation. During this conversation, we will listen to your story and explore your legal options and goals. What’s more, you can ask us any questions you have about your case. That way, we can put your mind at ease moving forward, all with no further obligation on your part.
What Damages Can Our DUI Injury Attorneys Recover for You After a Drunk Driving Accident?
Our team can calculate the value of your damages using receipts, bills, and invoices. We will also learn as much as possible about how the crash has affected your life, what you can no longer do, and how your overall enjoyment of life has changed. Your compensable damages should include the monetary and non-monetary losses you sustained due to the accident.
After a DUI crash, your compensable losses may include:
Economic Damages
Economic damages include any monetary loss you incurred because of the drunk driving accident. These damages include tangible losses that you could prove with medical bills or receipts. Our attorneys fight for the economic damages you need to make your family financially whole again.
Examples of economic damages you could recover include:
- Medical expenses: These include any expenses you’ve paid or owe regarding your medical care. Medical care could include visits to the emergency room, doctor visits, ambulance rides, surgeries, diagnostic testing services, and prescription and over-the-counter medications.
- Future medical expenses: Our team can calculate the value of your future medical expenses. Examples include physical therapy, assistive medical devices, and surgeries.
- Lost income: You could recover the income you lost while you recovered from the accident. We can also include the loss of any benefits, such as paid time off and bonuses.
- Future lost income: If your injuries prevent you from working or returning to your prior employment, our legal team can calculate the value of your future income losses. We can speak to experts and utilize our collective knowledge to determine how much compensation to seek.
- In-home nursing care: If your injuries are severe, you could require in-home nursing care. This can require you to pay a lot of out-of-pocket costs. If you require this service, our legal team can fight for what you need.
- Rehabilitative treatments: You could require rehabilitation to regain your mobility and independence. These treatments could include speech therapy, occupational therapy, or physical therapy.
Our legal team can help you organize receipts and other documents to prove these monetary losses. By including this information in your initial claim, you could present a strong case to the liable party’s insurer.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages include any intangible loss you sustained because of the drunk driving accident. While these damages are not supported by documentation, they’re still compensable. A skilled DUI accident attorney can use your injury’s severity, number of days missed from work, your personal testimony, family and friends’ statements, and other factors when calculating these damages.
Examples of non-economic damages you could recover include:
- Pain and suffering: Your injuries could cause you to experience physical pain every time you perform a task or even while at rest. If you have dealt with intense physical pain, you could recover compensation for that loss.
- Emotional distress: Your injuries or the accident itself could cause you anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, or depression. If you face these psychological conditions as a result of the accident, you could recover damages to help you receive treatment and to compensate you for what you’ve been through.
- Loss of enjoyment: If you once enjoyed an active lifestyle, such as taking walks or playing sports, you could recover damages for loss of enjoyment of life.
The law identifies these damages as subjective losses, meaning there isn’t an exact monetary amount associated with them. Therefore, a knowledgeable attorney from our DUI accident law firm can help you determine what you deserve.
The Costs Our Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys in Phoenix Can Recover For Injured Clients
Drunk drivers can cause irreparable harm to other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and families across Phoenix. One bad decision can tear a family apart, result in a lifelong disability, and cost millions of dollars. Understanding the extent of this harm is crucial for protecting your rights and taking legal action.
What is the Physical Cost of a Drunk Driving Accident?
One of the most immediate and visible effects of drunk driving accidents is physical injury. Victims may suffer from a range of injuries, from minor bruises and lacerations to severe, life-altering conditions like spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or amputations. These injuries can lead to long-term health complications, requiring ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and, in some cases, lifelong care. The financial burden of such care can be immense, often necessitating substantial compensation in the millions of dollars.
Emotional and Psychological Trauma
When drunk drivers cause accidents, victims can suffer significant emotional and psychological trauma. The shock and stress of the event can lead to conditions such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These mental health issues can be as debilitating as physical injuries, affecting a person’s ability to work, engage in social activities, and enjoy their previous lifestyle. The cost of mental health treatment and therapy, though less easily quantifiable, is an essential component of the recovery process.
Financial and Economic Loss
The aftermath of a drunk driving accident often imposes a significant financial strain on victims and their families. This includes not only medical expenses but also loss of income, especially if the victim is unable to return to work. The financial impact can extend to the cost of vehicle repairs or replacement, modifications to homes in cases of permanent disabilities, and other incidental expenses. The economic fallout can disrupt the financial stability of a family, sometimes for years following the accident.
Impact on Quality of Life and Relationships
A drunk driver can also destroy relationships, families, and the victim’s overall quality of life. Long-term injuries may limit a victim’s ability to engage in hobbies, sports, or other activities that they enjoyed before the accident. This loss of life enjoyment is a profound consequence that affects not just the individual but also their family and friends. The stress and challenges of coping with the aftermath can strain personal relationships, sometimes leading to social isolation or family conflict.
Can a Third-Party Liability Be Held Responsible for a DUI Accident?
A drunk driver may not be the only party liable for your DUI accident injuries. Arizona Revised Statutes § 4-311 states that a dram shop, usually an alcohol vendor, could also be liable for damages in a DUI accident in certain circumstances. If the vendor knowingly sold alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person or a minor, the vendor could be vicariously liable for the conduct of the consumer – including the repercussions of DUI car accidents.
Holding a third party financially responsible could lead to greater compensation for your injuries, especially if the drunk driver committed a hit-and-run or does not have enough insurance to cover your damages. The Phoenix DUI accident lawyers at Gallagher & Kennedy can investigate your case and help you identify all possible defendant(s) in our fight for fair compensation.
Our Case Results Prove Our Commitment to Client Success
If you are ready to pursue compensation, we will do everything possible to get it.
Just look at the successful case results we’ve secured for other injured clients:
- More than $60 million after a bus defect led to injuries and fatalities
- $10 million for the parents of a child hit by an inattentive motorist
- $4.5 million after a cement truck hit our client
Of course, prior case outcomes cannot predict the resolution of your unique claim. We’ll work to resolve your case by negotiating a settlement from the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. If the insurer denies liability, for example, by saying that it won’t pay for losses resulting from its client’s intoxication, we can explore other options, such as filing a lawsuit.
7 Steps to Take After a Drunk Driver Hits You in Phoenix
Getting hit by a drunk driver can change your life instantly. However, if you take these steps immediately after the accident (and in the coming days), you could strengthen your case against the liable party. If possible, we suggest that you:
1. Call the Police
If you’re still at the accident scene, call law enforcement immediately. Ask them to send an ambulance to take care of those injured. While waiting for the police, try to get out of traffic and to a safe area to wait.
During this interaction:
- Don’t admit fault for the accident. Even saying something like, “I’m sorry,” could imply you caused the accident. You don’t want to say anything that could even make you partially to blame for what happened.
- Avoid accusations of fault. An accident scene can quickly become heated. Avoid speculating about who caused the accident or making assumptions about the other party’s sobriety. Law enforcement understands how to recognize signs of drunk driving and can include those details in the accident report.
- Request a copy of the police report. You want to make sure that the police report accurately describes the collision and its aftermath. By requesting a copy, you can double-check for any inaccuracies. Clearing up these misunderstandings is easier at the start rather than later.
2. Accept Medical Care at the Accident Scene
When the emergency medical response team arrives, have them do a full evaluation even if you feel fine. Your adrenaline could mask any pain you feel, even masking the symptoms of life-threatening conditions. A medical professional can identify if you have any severe injuries and render the appropriate care. Accepting medical care at the accident scene will also serve as the groundwork for your injury case.
3. Obtain the Contact Information of the Other Drivers Involved
If your injuries allow, get as much information as possible from the drunk driver, including their:
- Full name
- Insurance information
- Vehicle’s make and model
- Vehicle’s license plate number
- Contact information
- Driver’s license number
By getting this information, one of our attorneys could follow up with the driver or their insurance company on your behalf. If the drunk driver is too intoxicated to give you their information, be sure the police arrive at the scene to include this information in their police report.
4. Gather Evidence From the Scene
Try to gather evidence from the accident scene. This could include photographs of the scene and your car’s damage. Video footage can also help. Anything that proves how the accident occurred and who caused it could bolster your case.
5. Identify Witnesses
Again, if your injuries allow, identify people who witnessed the accident. Ask them about what they observed when the accident happened. Ask them to write down or record their observations, too. Over time, details could get fuzzy. The information they provide could carry more value as an immediate witness statement.
Also, obtain their contact information in case you need their statement or testimony in the future.
6. Get Follow-up Medical Care
After the accident scene clears, get checked out by your general practitioner, urgent care doctor, or emergency room doctor. The severity of your injuries could impact how soon you need medical attention. Getting the medical attention you need can prove that you took care of your injuries and that they didn’t worsen because you failed to get the appropriate medical care.
A medical professional can provide the necessary treatment plan to help your injuries heal. Also, they can provide documentation of your injury’s diagnosis. You can include this information as evidence in your DUI accident injury claim.
7. Speak to a DUI Accident Lawyer Serving Phoenix
When a drunk driver’s negligent actions cause you harm, you should consider consulting with an attorney following your accident. At Gallagher & Kennedy, after a free consultation, we can get to work on your case immediately. We can navigate the complexities of your case, including any liability disputes. We share your goal of seeking maximum compensation for your losses.
Speak to a DUI Accident Attorney at Gallagher & Kennedy About Your Case Today
Shannon L. Clark, DUI Accident Injury Attorney in Phoenix.
If you or a loved one sustained injuries from a DUI accident, you might not know who to turn to. To explore your options, you can call a drunk driving accident attorney in our Phoenix office. When you reach out to us, you can expect to learn about your legal options with our personal injury law firm. We understand drunk driving accidents in Phoenix and have successfully represented individuals and families affected by these catastrophic accidents.
Contact us today for your free case review by calling (602) 530-8400. When you choose to work with our firm, we commit to helping you seek compensation through a settlement or through the court system. We go above and beyond for our clients and take the necessary steps to build a solid injury case for you.
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Gallagher & Kennedy — Phoenix Office
2575 E Camelback Rd, Suite 1100
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Tel: (602) 530-8400