If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a drunk driving accident, you know the devastating consequences it can have on everyone involved. Life changes in an instant, and in profound ways. Drunk driving accidents are among the most senseless tragedies a family can face. Fortunately, you can recover compensation for everything the accident cost you.
However, obtaining all the compensation you deserve for your drunk driving accident injuries often requires the attention of a knowledgeable drunk driving accident lawyer. Attorney Jim Parrish of the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC is devoted to helping victims and surviving family members recover the compensation they deserve.
What Is My Drunk Driving Accident Case Worth?
It depends on the unique circumstances of your case. The Parrish Law Firm, PLLC may be able to help you recover:
- Medical bills for past and future procedures
- Counseling expenses
- Rehabilitation or physical therapy
- Long-term care facilities
- Lost wages or self-employment income
- Loss of future earnings
- Loss of employment benefits
- Loss of 401(k) contributions, pension, or Social Security benefits
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium or loss of society
- Pain and suffering
- Property loss
- Wrongful death damages (including but not limited to funeral, burial, and cremation expenses)
- Punitive (sometimes called “exemplary”) damages
What Are Punitive Damages?
According to Virginia law, a victim in a drunk driving accident case in Virginia can make a claim for punitive damages in addition to the other damages for economic and noneconomic losses
The intent of punitive damages is to punish misconduct that goes beyond regularly prohibited conduct. To obtain punitive damages, a victim must prove the defendant’s conduct showed “a conscious disregard for the rights of others.”
The legal system sometimes refers to punitive damages as “exemplary” damage, as the goal is to make an “example” out of a perpetrator’s behavior to warn and deter others.
Punitive damages are not available in all cases but may be available if evidence proves that:
- At the time of the accident, the driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 percent or more;
- At any time while drinking she knew or should have known that her alcohol consumption could impair her ability to operate a motor vehicle safely; and
- The driver’s intoxication caused the victim’s injury or death.
If the driver refused to submit to a blood or breath test, you are not out of luck. In fact, the same law states that an “unreasonable refusal” to submit to a BAC test is “sufficiently willful or wanton as to show a conscious disregard for the rights of others” as long as we can establish the last two points on the bullet list above.
Woodbridge Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me 571-229-1800
How Can I Hold the Drunk Driver Liable?
In some cases, drunk driving accident claims are very straightforward: we present our evidence of the driver’s intoxication as the cause of the crash and the insurer pays you what you deserve.
However, this is rare. In most cases, we will need to gather much more evidence than the police report and your medical bills. We might also need eyewitness testimony, expert witness testimony, and an accident reconstruction to prove without a doubt that the drunk driver caused the accident.
Could Anyone Other than the Drunk Driver be Responsible for My Injuries?
In most cases, parties in a drunk driving accident case include the drunk driver and the victim, whether the victim be a passenger in the same car or in a separate vehicle. In limited circumstances, however, a drunk driving accident case could involve a third party according to the doctrine of negligent entrustment.
A negligent entrustment situation arises when a person knowingly provides someone with a “dangerous instrumentality.” That person then becomes responsible for the actions the negligent party takes with that instrumentality. For example, a person who knows or should know that he is providing a vehicle to an intoxicated person can be liable for resulting injuries.
Note: Virginia presently does not have a “dram shop law.” This means that bars or restaurants that serve alcohol are not responsible for personal injuries or property damage that occur after a patron leaves their business.
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Why Should I Choose the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC?
Drunk driving injuries can cause mounting medical bills, surgeries, lost income, physical therapy, rehabilitation, long-term care, and other staggering losses. With motor vehicle accidents also comes emotional trauma. Victims sometimes face debilitating nightmares, insomnia, anxiety, and depression.
Adding insult to injury is the insurance company on the other side. Claims adjusters may seem sympathetic; however, their job is to save their employer as much money as possible. In many cases, this involves taking advantage of vulnerable accident victims by pinning blame on them or accusing them of exaggerating their injuries.
Attorney Jim Parrish has inside information about how insurance companies work. He used to defend large insurance companies, so he knows the tactics they use. He now uses that knowledge to help accident victims win the compensation they need to pay their bills and support their families.
And we do all this with no upfront costs from you. The consultation is free and we do not receive payment unless you win your case.
Schedule Your FREE Consultation Today
The Parrish Law Firm, PLLC treats victims with respect, empathy, and dignity in every case. For a free consultation about the compensation you may be entitled to, call 571-229-1800 today.
Call or Text 571-229-1800 or Complete a Free Case Evaluation form