Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers | September 19, 2016 | Car Accidents
If you have been in an accident with a reckless driver, your case for establishing fault may be even stronger if the driver was intoxicated. However, you may not always have proof that the other person was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the wreck. The police may decline to test for intoxication for various reasons.
If you suspect that the other driver was driving drunk, you may have other options for proving it. But it is important to note that even if you do not have proof that the other driver was intoxicated, driving recklessly is usually enough to establish fault.
How To Prove the Driver Was Under the Influence
Driving while intoxicated may add strength to any other evidence that the intoxicated driver was at fault. In North Carolina, as in most states, intoxication is defined as a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher (0.04 percent or higher for commercial drivers). Even if the driver is convicted of DWI (driving while impaired) or DUI (driving under the influence—in some places outside of North Carolina), it still must be shown that the driver violated their duty of driving safely by breaking traffic laws, thus causing the accident.
There are certain behaviors that are good indicators that another driver is driving while intoxicated. For example, going the wrong way down a one-way street, driving very slow, very fast or at inconsistent speeds, weaving in and out of lanes, and of course, the smell of alcohol on their breath. If you suspect that the driver who caused your crash is intoxicated, and the police at the scene do not conduct a field sobriety test or breathalyzer test, mention to the police your suspicions and request that they at least conduct a breathalyzer test on the other driver.
If the police have not already been called to the scene of the accident, go ahead and call them. A police report may help your case and provide a means to test the other driver for intoxication. Besides, under North Carolina law, you are required to notify the police if a collision causes an injury or death to anyone or property damage of $500 or more. Since most repair costs from a collision would be higher than $500, just call the police if any damage at all has been done.
If the driver is shown to have been impaired, your claim against them could include not just personal injury and property damages, but punitive damages as well. The driver would be personally responsible for any punitive damages awarded (rather than their insurance company).
DUI/DWI or Reckless, You Still have a Strong Case
If no test is conducted and you have no solid proof that the other driver was intoxicated, that does not mean you don’t have a case. It is also not necessary for the other driver to be convicted of DWI or even charged. If the other driver was driving recklessly and breaking traffic laws, you can prove through witnesses, your own testimony and other evidence at the scene of the accident that the other driver is at fault.
Need help showing that another driver was to blame for the crash that injured you? Please do not hesitate to contact Riddle & Riddle, LLP for immediate assistance. Our team has offices in Raleigh, Goldsboro, Jacksonville and Kinston and we represent victims throughout the state of North Carolina.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer from Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in North Carolina today. We have twelve convenient locations in North Carolina, including Greenville, Raleigh, Goldsboro, Jacksonville, Kinston, Charlotte, Greensboro, Durham, Fayetteville, Wilmington, Winston-Salem & Garner.
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers – Raleigh Office
4600 Marriott Dr STE 500, Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 876-3020
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers – Charlotte Office
1914 J N Pease Pl Suite 142, Charlotte, NC 28262
(704) 486-5824
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers – Durham Office
100 E Parrish St STE 200, Durham, NC 27701
(919) 728-1770
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers – Garner Office
500 Benson Rd Suite 111, Garner, NC 27529
(800) 525-7111
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers – Greensboro Office
7B Corporate Center Ct Suite 15, Greensboro, NC 27408
(336) 516-9066
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers – Greenville Office
300 E Arlington Blvd Suite 2A #110, Greenville, NC 27858
(252) 397-8620
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers – Goldsboro Office
601 N Spence Ave, Goldsboro, NC 27534
(919) 778-9700
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers – Jacksonville Office
3391 Henderson Dr, Jacksonville, NC 28546
(910) 455-5599
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers – Kinston Office
807 N Queen St, Kinston, NC 28501
(252) 397-8624
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers – Fayetteville Office
2517 Raeford Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28305
(910) 387-9186
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers – Wilmington Office
1608 Queen St Suite 12, Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 889-4064
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers – Winston-Salem Office
102 W 3rd St, Ste 1007, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
(336) 516-9042