Did you get hurt after someone who was operating a vehicle while intoxicated crashed into you? As the victim of a drunk driving collision, you can take legal action and pursue compensation in your case. However, instead of trying to do this by yourself, call a Bronx car accident lawyer.
With the help of a drunk driving accident lawyer in the Bronx, you’ll have someone advocating for your rights and fighting for fair recovery on your behalf. At the law firm of Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers, our attorneys have 50 years of combined experience.
Together, we’ve recovered $100 million for our clients. Not only do we operate on a contingency fee basis and travel for consultations, but we also provide everyone with car service, both to and from our office, for initial intakes.
Why Drunk Driving Accidents Can Be Serious
Drunk driving crashes often cause more serious injuries than a Bronx personal injury lawyer usually sees on New York roads. This is because alcohol affects people’s ability to safely operate a vehicle:
- Ability to make judgment calls
- Overall coordination skills
- Impaired reaction times
- Ability to make safe decisions behind the wheel
As a result, impaired drivers tend to drive too fast, drift into other lanes, run red lights, disregard stop signs, and travel the wrong way down roadways right before a collision occurs. As a result, these car crashes tend to happen at high speeds and involve little to no attempt to brake.
These are injuries victims tend to suffer from as a result of drunk driving accidents:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Internal injuries
- Conditions that require intense medical treatment
In some cases, these injuries are the catalyst for permanent disabilities that end up affecting a person’s ability to go back to work, enjoy their daily activities, or maintain the quality of life they experienced prior to getting hurt.
New York law prohibits drivers from operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs, so people who engage in this behavior are subject to criminal penalties. However, criminal cases against drunk drivers don’t automatically yield compensation for the people who were injured.
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What Bronx Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Can Do for You
After a serious accident, victims are often contacted by insurance adjusters almost immediately. These companies may sound helpful at first, but their goal is usually to minimize payouts and protect profits.
Insurance companies take advantage of injured people at this point in the process because victims don’t usually understand the true value of their claim until later, but a drunk driving accident lawyer in the Bronx can protect you.
Your drunk driving accident attorney in the Bronx can handle communication with insurance companies and stop you from accepting unfair settlements. Here’s what your attorney will likely investigate:
- Police reports and arrest records related to the drunk driver
- Surveillance footage or dash camera video
- Witness testimony
- Medical documentation
- Cell phone records to determine if distracted driving was involved
- Vehicle damage and crash reconstruction evidence
The legal team can also calculate the full impact of the accident instead of focusing only on immediate expenses. Many victims underestimate future medical costs, long-term rehabilitation needs, and the emotional toll these crashes create.
Compensation Available After Drunk Driving Accidents
When you ask your drunk driving accident lawyers in the Bronx what your compensation might look like, they will likely tell you that you’re entitled to compensation for different types of losses. The exact value of your case will depend on the severity of your injuries.
Your long-term medical needs and lost wages, as well as any permanent disabilities that are involved, will be considered as well. A drunk driving victim lawyer in the Bronx can pursue compensation for these damages:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Hospital stays
- Surgery and rehabilitation
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
- Future medical care
In some cases, you might be able to pursue punitive damages against the responsible party or parties. These damages are intended to punish people who engage in reckless behavior.
Understanding New York No-Fault Insurance Laws
New York follows a no-fault insurance system for car accident claims. This means that after a collision, drivers and passengers who’ve been hurt in the crash will typically rely on their own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage for medical expenses and lost wages.
This is usually true, regardless of who caused the incident. Many of the issues addressed in consumer FAQs about no-fault insurance involve questions about the following matters:
- Available benefits
- Filing requirements
- When you can pursue compensation beyond your own policy
That said, victims who sustain serious injuries might be granted the right to pursue a claim directly against the at-fault driver. Under New York state laws, these types of injuries could potentially qualify you to step outside the no-fault system to seek additional compensation:
- Internal fractures
- Significant disfigurement
- Permanent limitations
- Conditions that substantially interfere with your daily activities
The rules surrounding no-fault claims and serious injury cases can be complicated. Missing deadlines or submitting incomplete paperwork can create unnecessary delays, which might affect the compensation available to you as an injured victim.
Contact Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers for Help From Our Drunk Driving Accident Law Firm in the Bronx
Many people who’ve been injured in collisions caused by drunk drivers worry about hiring a lawyer because they think they’ll just be viewed as another case number. At Chaikin Trial Group Injury Lawyers, we prioritize personal relationships and direct communication with our clients.
We approach every case with care, and we treat our clients like our family. Rather than being passed around between departments, you’ll receive direct access to your attorney. Our law firm is also home to bilingual lawyers, meaning we can talk to you in both Spanish and English.
Our Bronx drunk driving accident attorneys understand the realities that victims and their families end up facing in the aftermath of these incidents. That’s why we operate with a sense of urgency and fight for favorable results in every case. Come in as a client, leave as a friend. Contact us today!
