Raleigh Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
Raleigh is home to some of the busiest roads and highways in North Carolina, and, unfortunately, drunk driving is relatively common, putting drivers and passengers at serious risk.
Raleigh Drunk Driving Statistics
In 2019, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) reported 562 auto crashes involving alcohol in Raleigh. 399 of those crashes resulted in injury, and there were 7 fatalities.
In the greater State of North Carolina, there were 11,492 crashes involving alcohol in 2019, resulting in 7,665 injuries and 348 deaths.
23.7 percent of traffic deaths in North Carolina in 2019 were the result of drunk driving.
Common Injuries in Drunk Driving Accidents
Given the drunk driver’s inability to control the vehicle, drunk driving accidents can result in serious and even life-threatening injuries.
Common injuries in drunk driving accidents include:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Cuts, scrapes, and contusions
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Paralysis and semi-paralysis
- Loss of limbs (amputations)
- Burns
- Internal bleeding and organ injuries
In the most heartbreaking situations, drunk driving accidents can result in death. In these cases, a wrongful death lawyer may be able to help surviving loved ones fight for justice.
Proving Fault in Drunk Driving Cases
In drunk driving accident cases, proving fault is relatively straightforward. The plaintiff must prove that the defendant was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident and that his or her negligence caused the accident.
In personal injury cases (including claims for drunk driving accidents), you must prove four important things:
- The defendant had a “duty of care” to avoid injuring the plaintiff
- The defendant violated this duty of care
- The defendant’s negligence resulted in injury to the plaintiff
- The plaintiff suffered damages (injury, property damage, emotional trauma, etc.)
Free Case Review
If you’ve been involved in a drunk driving car accident, it’s crucial to understand your rights. Riddle & Riddle is here to guide you through the process and help you secure the compensation you deserve.
Contributory Negligence
In North Carolina, the doctrine of contributory negligence means that a plaintiff can be barred from recovery if he or she partially contributed to the accident. Many defendants and insurance companies will use the contributory negligence defense to try and avoid liability.
However, in drunk driving cases, it can typically be proven that the drunk driver’s action constitute “willful and wanton” gross negligence that deliberately put the plaintiff at risk of injury. Our drunk driving accident lawyers have used this tactic to defeat the contributory negligence defense in many personal injury cases.
Damages Available in Drunk Driving Accident Injury Cases
If you’ve been injured in a drunk driving accident, you may be entitled to damages for your injuries and other losses, including:
- Medical Expenses — Compensation is available to pay for medical treatments, necessary home medical equipment, and future care.
- Lost Wages — A settlement or verdict may include compensation to make up for lost wages if you’ve been forced to miss work as a result of the drunk driving accident.
- Loss of Future Income — You may also be able to recover compensation to make up for lost future earning potential if you are unable to return to your previous job as a result of your injuries.
- Pain and Suffering — Emotional injury can also be compensated in personal injury cases. This may also include compensation for loss of consortium (loss of companionship or sexual relations with a spouse) or permanent scarring and disfigurement.
- Punitive Damages — In some drunk driving accident cases, a judge or jury may choose to impose punitive damages in addition to the “compensatory” damages listed above. Punitive damages are designed to “punish” the defendant for recklessness and gross negligence.
Injured in a Drunk Driving Accident in Raleigh NC?
If you’ve been hurt in a drunk driving accident, you may be entitled to compensation and our experienced Raleigh personal injury attorneys can help.
For a FREE consultation with an experienced Raleigh car accident attorney handling drunk driving cases, please call 919-876-3020 or complete the fast and easy form below.
Why a Raleigh DWI Accident Lawyer at Riddle & Riddle?
A drunk driving accident lawyer or distracted driving accident lawyer at Riddle & Riddle can help you seek the justice and compensation you deserve.
Since 1985, we’ve helped thousands of injured North Carolinians recover the compensation they deserve, including more than $900 million in compensation recovered for victims since 2000 alone (see disclaimer below).
Our attorneys have more than 170 years of combined legal experience, and we’ve been recognized with many prestigious memberships and awards, including The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, Super Lawyers, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and The Litigator Award (see disclaimer below).
Don’t wait, though — the longer you wait to contact us, the harder it may be to prove liability and win your case.
They turned a heartbreaking situation completely around.
–Tonya T., Riddle & Riddle client
Justice Counts™ for those injured due to drunk driving in Raleigh and across North Carolina. Call a drunk driving accident attorney at Riddle & Riddle today at 919-876-3020 and let’s talk.