Drunk driving accidents force victims to face the unthinkable. When this tragedy strikes, dealing with the aftermath — the injuries, the inability to work, the emotional trauma — can be unbearable. The Parrish Law Firm, PLLC has spent many years helping victims who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. We have helped drunk driving victims and bereaved survivors pursue the maximum compensation the law will allow. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a drunk driving accident, call a drunk driving accident lawyer in Fairfax. Our team of experienced drunk driving accident lawyers in Virginia will advise you of your rights and options during a free, no-obligation consultation.
What Is My Drunk Driving Accident Case Worth?
Every car accident and its resulting effects are unique, so we cannot tell you what you can expect without discussing your case with you. In general, however, the following are examples of damages that we have helped clients recover following drunk driving accidents:
- Emergency transportation expenses
- Hospital care
- Physical therapy
- Vocational or occupational therapy
- Long-term care
- Counseling or psychotherapy
- Prescription and over-the-counter medications
- Chiropractic, acupuncture, or massage therapy
- Medical equipment
- Modifications to motor vehicles or home to accommodate for decreased mobility
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Wrongful death damage
The Parrish Law Firm’s Virginia car accident lawyers also pursue noneconomic damages.. These may include “pain and suffering,” as well as inconvenience. Such damages are compensable, even though they do not have a precise dollar figure.
All economic and noneconomic damages may include both past and future losses. Although it can be more difficult to establish the extent of such losses, it is important not to shortchange your case by focusing only on readily foreseeable losses.
At the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, we may employ experts to calculate and forecast costs such as lost earning potential, lost profits, and future medical care. The insurer on the other side of the table may likewise employ similar experts in its defense case. Our trial advocacy team uses finely tuned techniques to cross-examine opposing experts skillfully and vigorously.
As you can see, you need a Fairfax car accident lawyer to manage your case from the beginning to the end. Once your attorney explains you all your legal alternatives, you will have a clearer picture regarding liability, the assigned monetary value of your economic and non-economic damages, insurance companies’ strategies, and more. Going against a liable party or an insurance company alone is not a wise move, as they will try to limit your options and stop your actions in their tracks.
You May Be Entitled to Punitive Damages
Depending on the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of the offending driver, you may be entitled to punitive damages.
Unlike economic and noneconomic damages, the goal of awarding punitive damages is not to compensate the victim. The purpose is to punish the offending driver and deter other drivers from following the same course of conduct.
Punitive damages are under the court’s discretion. A victim must prove that the impaired driver’s conduct showed a conscious disregard for the rights of others.
Code of Virginia § 8.01-44.5 provides that the plaintiff can meet this burden of showing a conscious disregard for the rights of others if:
- The driver’s BAC was .15 percent or higher;
- At any time during the driver’s alcohol consumption “he knew or should have known that his ability to operate a motor vehicle would be impaired;” and
- The driver’s intoxication “was a proximate cause of the injury or death” of the victim (i.e., but for the at-fault driver’s intoxication, the injury or death would not have occurred).
It is common for impaired drivers to refuse to submit to a breathalyzer test. If this is the case in your drunk driving accident, Virginia law allows a court to consider such a refusal, as well as the eyewitness testimony of first responders or others at the scene to determine whether the driver was intoxicated at the time of the collision.
Fairfax Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me 571-229-1800
We Fight the Insurance Company for You
While insurance companies may seem warm and compassionate after an accident, this does not mean that you can trust them. Though insurance adjusters may try to assure you of their willingness to help you get the compensation you deserve, you can be sure they are doing everything they can to devalue or deny your claim and save the insurance company money.
This could be anything from tricking you into admitting fault to hoping you will be desperate enough to accept their very low settlement offer.
It can be difficult for an outsider to understand and anticipate the tactics insurers use to pay as little as possible. Getting insurance companies to pay fair compensation requires extensive knowledge of their industry.
Attorney Jim Parrish and his team have that very knowledge. Jim grew up in the insurance industry and spent the early years of his legal practice defending the same insurance companies he now stands against. Using these years of experience, Jim employs his knowledge to the benefit of his current personal injury clients.
Experience Our Award-Winning Service for Yourself
The Parrish Law Firm, PLLC has won awards for both client service and trial advocacy. Most importantly, however, we have won the appreciation of satisfied clients. Call or text us to see how we can help you win the compensation you deserve after an accident with an intoxicated driver. The consultation is always free.
Call or Text 571-229-1800 or Complete a Free Case Evaluation form