Jefferson Parish Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Jefferson Parish Drunk Driving Accident Attorney

A Jefferson Parish drunk driving accident lawyer is an invaluable asset after you or a loved one is injured in a crash caused by an intoxicated driver. You have the right to claim compensation for your damages, and the criminal case from the state against the drunk driver will not seek compensation on your behalf. You need to hire a drunk driving accident lawyer you can trust at your first opportunity to help you build a civil claim for damages.

Representing Injured Victims of Drunk Driving Accidents in Jefferson Parish

The attorneys at Ron Austin Law have more than 80 combined years of experience handling a wide range of complex accident cases for clients in Jefferson Parish, and our firm has successfully secured more than $1 billion in compensation for injured accident victims throughout the area. You have a limited time to pursue compensation for your damages after a drunk driver has injured you, and our team can help. 

The most recent accident data from the Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety includes reports from 2022. That year, there were 852 fatal crashes and 42,351 injury crashes statewide. Nearly 30% of all fatal crashes and about 7% of all injury crashes in Louisiana in 2022 involved an alcohol-impaired driver, and intoxicated driving is a persistent problem throughout Jefferson Parish. 

An experienced Jefferson Parish drunk driving accident attorney is an invaluable asset after such an accident. While the intoxicated driver may clearly be to blame for the accident, the process of holding them accountable for the harm they have caused is likely to be more difficult than the average person expects. The state may prosecute the drunk driver, but you will need an attorney to help you claim compensation for your damages. 

You need legal counsel you can trust to guide you through your case. Once you establish liability for the accident, your attorney can help you claim compensation for the economic and non-economic damages you suffered in the accident, and you have a short time to build your case. Our team is ready to assist with every step of your recovery efforts, and we’re confident we can guide you to a positive result. 

Building Your Case Against a Drunk Driver in Jefferson Parish

It is illegal for anyone to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This behavior is typically called “driving under the influence (DUI)” or “driving while intoxicated (DWI),” and in Louisiana, DUI and DWI are legally identical. When a driver is caught operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they will be arrested and charged with DUI. If they caused an accident, they face civil liability for resulting damages. 

Drunk driving is measured based on blood-alcohol concentration (BAC), and Louisiana law defines drunk driving as operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08% or higher. If a drunk driver caused your recent accident, you might assume that liability is clear and that you will have little trouble holding them accountable for the damages they caused. However, your case could be more complex than it initially appears. 

A Jefferson Parish drunk driving accident lawyer can gather evidence that not only proves the defendant directly caused your accident, but also that they are directly responsible for the damages you suffered. You can rely on your attorney to gather the evidence needed to prove fault for your damages and then prepare you for the legal proceedings to follow. 

Recovering Compensation for a Drunk Driving Accident in Jefferson Parish

Once you have established liability for a drunk driving accident, your attorney can help you file an auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver. Louisiana law requires every driver to have auto insurance that includes bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage. When a covered driver causes a crash, their policy can pay for resulting damages up to the policy’s coverage limits. 

This may sound simple, but the reality is that most injured drivers encounter problems with their auto insurance claims. This is because most insurance carriers attempt to settle these claims for as little as possible, looking for ways to justify denying or devaluing a claim as much as they can. It’s a good idea to hire a drunk driving accident lawyer before this happens so they can negotiate on your behalf, helping you secure a fair settlement offer. 

You may need to build a personal injury case against the drunk driver to recover your damages. For a plaintiff in Louisiana to succeed with this case, they need to prove that the defendant’s negligence or misconduct directly caused their claimed damages. If successful, they can potentially recover compensation for: 

• Property damage. The plaintiff can seek compensation for vehicle repair costs, the actual cash value of their vehicle if it was damaged beyond repair, and the value of any other personal property lost in the accident.
  
• Medical bills. Many drunk driving accidents result in serious injuries. The plaintiff can claim compensation for the cost of any medical treatment they require to reach maximum medical improvement. If the plaintiff suffered a serious injury requiring ongoing care, the defendant is also liable for the plaintiff’s future medical expenses.
  
• Lost wages. If the plaintiff cannot work because of their injuries, they can claim compensation for the income they are unable to earn while they recover. If they have been permanently disabled by the accident, the defendant could also be liable for the plaintiff’s lost future earning capacity.
  
• Pain and suffering. A personal injury plaintiff has the right to claim compensation for physical pain and psychological trauma resulting from a drunk driving accident. Generally, the amount of pain and suffering compensation a plaintiff receives reflects the severity of their injuries.
  
• Punitive damages. The court may compel the defendant to pay punitive damages if the defendant caused serious bodily harm through some type of illegal misconduct. Your attorney can advise you as to whether this is likely to come into play for your case and, if so, how much you could expect to receive in punitive damages. 

Ultimately, you may have grounds to claim substantial compensation from the drunk driver who caused your accident. They are also likely to face criminal prosecution from the state, and if they are convicted of DUI, the record of their conviction will be strong evidence in your civil claim for damages. 

The team at Ron Austin Law has a strong record of success with a wide range of car accident cases in Jefferson Parish, including drunk driving accident cases. We know how damaging these accidents can be and that you are likely to have many complex legal questions in the aftermath of the accident. We are ready to help with every step of your case, so reach out to our firm as soon as possible to learn how a Jefferson Parish drunk driving accident attorney can assist you.

FAQs

What Are the Penalties for Drunk Driving in Jefferson Parish? 

The penalties for drunk driving in Jefferson Parish typically include driver’s license suspension, fines, jail time, and liability for any damages caused to others. Additionally, the defendant can face automatically increased penalties when they have caused serious bodily harm or death, and/or if they have a record of previous DUI convictions. 

How Much Is My Drunk Driving Accident Case Worth in Jefferson Parish? 

The value of your drunk driving accident case in Jefferson Parish typically hinges on the severity of the injuries you suffered. Under Louisiana’s personal injury laws, the victim of another party’s negligence or misconduct can seek full compensation for economic and non-economic damages they suffered because of the defendant’s actions. Your attorney can estimate the total value of your case. 

How Long Does it Take to Settle a Drunk Driving Accident Case? 

The time it could take to settle a drunk driving accident case varies, and hiring a skilled attorney to represent you is one of the most effective ways for you to streamline your legal proceedings. A good attorney can potentially help you reach a settlement in a personal injury case within a few weeks to a few months, but cases requiring litigation will take longer to resolve. 

Why Do I Need to Hire a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer? 

You need to hire a drunk driving accident lawyer because your case is likely to be more difficult to resolve than you expect. Even if the drunk driver is clearly to blame for your damages, you will need help navigating the formal process of recovering compensation. Once you receive medical treatment for your injuries, reach out to a DUI accident lawyer at your first opportunity so they can start building your case. 

Jefferson Parish Drunk Driving Accident Law Firm

The attorneys at Ron Austin Law have an extensive record of successful representation in drunk driving accident cases throughout Jefferson Parish, and we are confident we can help you secure accountability and compensation for your recent accident. We accept personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so there is no fee until we recover compensation for you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Jefferson Parish drunk driving accident lawyer.