Murrieta Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Drunk Driving Accidents in Murrieta

The intensification for public awareness campaigns as well as the threat of jail/prison time has not eliminated car accidents caused by drunk driving. The lives of innocent victims in Murrieta are still being affected way too often.

If you were injured in a traffic accident caused by a drunk driver, you have the right to pursue a civil case with the driver that differs from the criminal case your local district attorney or prosecutor will file. The damages you might be able to collect include, but are not limited to, medical bills, lost earnings, permanent disability, disfigurement and even death.

The Civil Suit

When you decide to file a civil case against the drunk driver, you are seeking a financial compensation for your injuries. A civil claim is the only way you can recover compensation from the other driver. This type of compensation is called “damages”.

In the case that a loved one was killed by a drunk driver, the immediate family has the right file a wrongful death case. The remedy in both the individual and death case is payment of damages. In the American legal system, that is the only way to compensate somebody who was injured by the negligent conduct of somebody else. The state cannot do that for you in its case against the drunk driver. If you want damages, you are required to go get them yourself.

The Lawsuit

In driver’s education classes, all drivers are taught from the beginning that they owe other drivers the duty of care to drive safely and obey all traffic laws. In the lawsuit for damages, the plaintiff must prove that the other driver committed a breach of that duty that caused the accident and their injuries. The fact alone that the other driver was drunk isn’t enough to prove negligence. A negligent act or failure to act must be shown. Damages must be proved through medical bills, records and testimony.

Most times, it is less taxing to get a guilty verdict in a civil case than in a criminal case as the burden of proof is very different. An experienced attorney can help you determine if you have a strong civil case. However, these complex cases require experienced knowledge from filing the correct paperwork in a timely manner to proving the breach of duty occured. Failure to prove any single element of the case will cause it to fail entirely.

The Wrongful Death Lawsuit

When a loved one is killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, the surviving family can bring a claim to recover such damages as funeral and burial expenses, any medical bills in connection with the injury and income lost or reasonably expected to be lost in the future. The wrongful death action is usually a separate count in an injury lawsuit where other damages are also sought.

Uninsured Drunk Drivers in Murrieta, CA

California law mandates that all drivers acquire at least liability auto insurance. However, it is not unusual for motorists to find themselves involved in an accident with an uninsured driver. Accidents and injuries caused by uninsured drivers is exactly what uninsured motorist insurance (UM) is for. UM typically covers bodily injury to the driver, family members and passengers of a vehicle in a motor vehicle collision caused by an uninsured driver. UM coverage is mandatory in some states, but it’s not mandatory in California.

Most insurance companies will cover you or your family members through UM insurance. However, many times when a UM claim is, your trusted insurance company can make recovering the damages very complex. That is where an experienced attorney can help you. The last thing you want is to face the insurance company’s lawyers alone!

Under-Insured Drunk Drivers in Murrieta, CA

California law has a very low requirement of $15,000 in liability insurance. This type of coverage is about enough for a night in the emergency room and a day in the hospital. Since mandatory liability limits are so low, under-insured motorist insurance is also available for when you have $85,000 in damages and the drunk driver only has $15,000 of coverage.

In the drunk driving criminal case, the state prosecutor only represents the State of California. He/she does not represent you. You are responsible for pursuing your own damages if you believe you have a case. Even so, your insurance company will likely fight the claim you file and their team of lawyers know just how to do win. Luckily for you, so do we!

When you’ve been injured through the fault of a drunk driver in Murrieta, you deserve fair compensation. You’ll want a knowledgeable, experienced and aggressive personal injury lawyer representing you. Reach out to the Duque Law offices today so that we can help you.

Contact our Murrieta Personal Injury Attorney at 1-877-241-9554 to learn more about your legal options. A free consultation is just a phone call away. You can even use our online contact form, and we’ll reply to you quickly.