Nearly everyone understands the dangers associated with drinking and driving. Media is saturated with campaigns that discuss legal penalties faced by those who are arrested while intoxicated behind the wheel. Of course, many other advertisements show the serious injuries and fatalities that may result from drinking and driving.
Sadly, even with this information, many people still choose to make the decision to drink excessively and drive a vehicle. And in far too many cases, this one choice can lead to catastrophic consequences.
In the aftermath of a drunk driving accident, victims and their loved ones may be unsure of where to turn. They also may be facing piling medical bills and other rising costs. If you find yourself in this position, we invite you to reach out to our legal team today. We have significant experience assisting drunk driving accident victims. We will aggressively advocate on your behalf to help you recover the compensation that you deserve.
Drunk Driving Causes Serious Damage in California
Just how serious is the problem of drunk driving in California? To be sure, drunk driving crashes caused more than 10,000 deaths and thousands of injuries in California between 2003 and 2012, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also reported that 1.8 percent of Californians admitted to driving after drinking too much.
In many cases, drunk driving may only lead to an arrest and criminal penalties. In others, however, the intoxicated driver may fail to control their vehicle and collide with unsuspecting victims. This could result in massive property damage, significant injuries, and, in the worst cases, death.
Suing a Drunk Driver in California
If you sustained injuries because of a drunk driver in California, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit in order to recover the compensation that you deserve for your damages. However, you should only do so with the help of an experienced personal injury attorney who can help determine your legal options. Attempting to navigate the legal system on your own may put your rights in jeopardy.
Furthermore, it’s important to act quickly, because evidence grows stale, memories fade, and there is a statute of limitations for filing your claim. (A statute of limitations is the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit after sustaining injury or loss.)
In California, accident victims have two years from the date of the injury (or wrongful death) to file a lawsuit against the negligent party.
Contact Us Today for Assistance
If you sustained injuries by a drunk driver in California, there is no reason to proceed any further without the help of our skilled legal team. Don’t hesitate to contact our office in Long Beach, California, for a free consultation if you were injured, or if a loved one was killed, by a drunk driver. Our personal injury attorneys will help recover the compensation that you deserve.