Driving drunk is illegal, reckless, and irresponsible, and everybody knows it. Yet people still get behind the wheel while they are impaired and injure other people. People hurt in drunk driving car accidents can sue the driver, and sometimes others, seeking compensation for their injuries with the assistance of a drunk driving accident lawyer in Reno.
Surviving family members can seek financial recovery from the driver and other parties with responsibility for their loved one’s death. Contact the dedicated Reno car accident lawyers at Shook & Stone to find out how you can hold a drunk driver accountable for their actions. We have over 150 years of combined experience.
Seeking Justice in Civil Court
When a drunk driver gets into an accident that causes injuries or death, they usually face criminal charges. The penalties can be substantial and include fines, community service, a suspended license, and even jail time. These measures punish the driver, but when you suffer losses in a drunk driving accident, they do nothing to help you and your family.
In these critical situations, the financial losses you have could be astounding, and your life may be nowhere near what it used to be. While it is important that the criminal process proceed, it is also critical that you seek legal action to recover your losses. That is where our Reno drunk driving accident attorney becomes your advocate.
We work alongside the police investigation to build your case. We will pursue every party possible to hold them accountable for your losses. Most importantly, you can work on healing while we build your claim and compensation. Do not settle for criminal action only. Let us fight for financial support.
How Our Reno Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Builds Your Case
After your accident, contact the police, then seek medical care. Focus on your recovery and healing, but do not delay in contacting our legal team to take immediate action.
There are several critical services we provide to victims that can change the outcome of this case:
- We gather evidence to build a case for you. This goes beyond using the police report. We will gather witness statements, use accident reconstruction services, and seek out medical documentation to prove fault. This is important, especially if we believe third parties may be involved.
- Determine all liable parties. In some situations, a third party, such as the location that served alcohol to a minor or a commercial employer, may also owe some compensation to you for their role in your accident and losses. We will fight for full compensation in these cases.
- Determine all of your losses. Your losses include any type of impact this accident has had on you. That might include financial limitations, physical injuries, impact on your quality of life, and damage to your mental health. We maximize your claim to the fullest level possible in court.
- Seek a fair claim from the at-fault party. There are numerous potential insurance companies that could be involved in these cases. We prioritize building an evidence-based claim that they cannot refute, and then pursuing all compensation owed to you. Our fierce negotiators will not disappoint you in pursuing recovery of losses.
- Go to court when necessary. There are many situations in which victims receive a fair settlement. Other times, we need to pursue a lawsuit. Our drunk driving wreck lawyer in Reno has ample experience pursuing these actions. We are court-proven.
When your life is no longer what you thought it would be as a result of the actions of another person, it is very important to hold them accountable for what happened to you.
As a Reno personal injury lawyer will tell you during your free consultation with us, you pay us nothing up front for our services. You only pay us when we win your case.
Seeking Action Against Third Parties
Nevada is one of just a handful of states that do not have dram shop laws. That means that if a restaurant, bar, or other location overserves someone alcohol, and that person goes on to cause an accident, the establishment cannot be held accountable for those losses. However, there are situations where a third party could be to blame.
One example is a state law related to minors. Many of the drunk driving accidents we seek involve minors who are under the age of 21. Under NRS 41.1305, an adult who knowingly serves alcohol to a minor under that age can be held accountable for the losses caused by the minor. This includes a bar or restaurant that serves a minor, as well as a social host at a party.
In addition to this, if the driver who struck you was working at the time of the accident, such as operating a truck or a commercial vehicle, their employer may hold some responsibility for your losses. If we can show that the employer knew or should have known that the driver posed a risk, for example, based on prior claims, that can work in your favor.
Expect our Reno drunk driving accident lawyer to be aggressive in proving these details. Use our personal injury settlement calculator to estimate your case’s value.
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Who Pays for Your Losses in a Drunk Driving Accident
One of the concerns many victims have is knowing who will pay for their losses. A drunk driver is no different than any other party when it comes to maintaining liability insurance that protects others from the driver’s mistakes. However, there are situations in which that driver may not have insurance.
If you obtained uninsured motorist insurance coverage at the time of purchasing your own liability coverage, this policy may help to cover your losses from a drunk driver without insurance. Our legal team will work to determine what your losses are and then seek a claim against your own policy to cover those losses.
If the drunk driver had insurance, but they lacked enough financial support to cover all of your losses, expect our legal team to pursue your underinsured motorist coverage. There are situations where we may seek legal action against the drunk driver’s assets as well, allowing you to recover more of the losses owed to you.
Why You Need a Reno Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
A drunk driving accident can seem like a straightforward claim, one that is backed by evidence from the police that the other party was under the influence.
However, in serious accidents where you have substantial injuries and other losses, you certainly benefit from hiring a Reno drunk driving accident lawyer. There are several reasons why we encourage you to turn to our legal team:
- Insurance companies will do all they can to blame you. Reducing your compensation payment is their priority. We do not let that happen.
- Drunk drivers will use every trick possible to avoid paying you for your losses. We know those tricks and how to avoid them.
- You have a lot on the line if you have serious injuries. With so much compensation necessary to help you rebuild, but insurance companies who may want to switch the blame, having our legal team by your side makes a difference.
We work to maximize your claim so you can recover all your losses. Expect our legal team to then work diligently to pursue fair compensation under the law. You are not alone in this process. We are here to help you.
What Your Drunk Driving Accident Claim May Be Worth
When a Reno personal injury lawyer brings a suit in civil court, they seek financial compensation for the driver’s actions and their impact. You could receive a comprehensive damage award that includes:
- Property damage
- Diminished earning capacity
- Income lost due to the accident
- Anticipated future accident-related healthcare costs
- Costs of renovating a home to accommodate a walker or wheelchair
- Mental health care to deal with the effects of trauma and adapt to disability, if necessary
- Incidental expenses like mileage, parking for medical appointments, and hiring someone to do the chores the injured person cannot do because of the injury
- All medical expenses, including rehabilitation, occupational and physical therapy, prosthetics, and other durable medical equipment, and at-home care if necessary
You are also entitled to seek reimbursement for your physical pain, mental suffering, disability, disfigurement, lost enjoyment of life, and the accident’s other subjective impacts.
However, you must prove your damages. You and your family should document your economic losses through receipts, invoices, health insurance statements, employment records, and tax returns.
Non-economic damages are more challenging to prove, but the Reno drunk driving car wreck attorneys at Shook & Stone are adept at compiling testimony, photographs, video, and other evidence demonstrating the impact the injuries had on your quality of life.
Punitive Damages Are Available in Drunk Driving Accidents
The Nevada Revised Statutes § 42.010 allows someone injured in a drunk driving auto accident in Reno to seek punitive damages. Punitive damages are additional money the court requires a wrongdoer to pay when their actions were especially outrageous.
In a drunk-driving collision case, punitive damages are an additional financial penalty imposed on the driver. You receive the additional money—or, when an accident is fatal, the deceased victim’s family gets the punitive damages.
The law in this state limits punitive damages in many cases, tying them to the value of the compensatory damages the injured person received. However, when a drunk driver causes injuries or death, the law does not put a limit on punitive damages. A skilled Shook & Stone attorney could persuade a jury that this additional award is appropriate in a specific case.
Remember that this is not a guarantee that you will receive these damages. For that reason, it is imperative that our Reno drunk driving accident attorney work closely with you to maximize the compensation you receive from your economic and non-economic damages. Expect us to be aggressive in that process. We are here to help you get what you deserve.
Act Within the Statute of Limitations in Nevada
Under the Nevada statute of limitations, victims have just two years to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party that caused their injury and losses. This two-year timeframe begins on the date that the accident happens, though there are some situations where you may be able to seek a claim beyond that, such as when you are a minor at the time of the accident.
If you wait too long without these exceptions, evidence becomes challenging to find, and victims no longer have the right to seek fair compensation for their losses. Avoid this by hiring our team now. Browse our client testimonials to learn more about our firm.
Seek Legal Advice as Quickly as Possible
Nevada law allows an injured person two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If you speak with a lawyer at Shook & Stone soon after your accident, you allow them plenty of time to build a robust case for compensation.
Seeking legal representation immediately has several other benefits. Importantly, once you retain legal counsel, the insurance company and other people representing the driver cannot contact you directly—they must go through your attorney.
This is important because insurance company representatives often take advantage of injured people by tricking them into claiming some responsibility for the accident or pressuring them to accept a quick settlement for much less than they deserve.
When you hire an attorney soon after a drunk driving accident, they can help in various other ways. They could arrange a hospital lien if you are having trouble paying medical bills, and they can recommend specialists and other services you might need during your recovery. Our committed team of legal professionals at Shook & Stone can be an asset.
Make a Drunk Driver Pay With the Help of a Reno Car Crash Attorney
Nobody has to drive drunk. Drinking when you plan to drive and getting behind the wheel after you have been drinking are willful acts. When someone gets hurt, the drunk driver must pay.
Our seasoned drunk driving accident attorneys in Reno at Shook & Stone have significant experience representing the victims of drunk driving accidents in Reno and their survivors. Call today to discuss your situation with a caring attorney.
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