Oklahoma City Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
Car accidents are the leading cause of unintentional injury in the United States, causing millions of dollars’ worth of damages and thousands of cases of serious harm, as well as fatalities. Sadly, the majority of these accidents are completely preventable, and would not occur but for the dangerous actions of drivers. One such dangerous action is that of drinking and driving.
Alcohol impaired driving crashes took the lives of more than 10,200 people in a single year throughout the United States, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also reports that alcohol-related crashes accounted for more than one-third of all traffic-related deaths that year.
In Oklahoma, the statistics regarding drinking and driving, and the damages that such a reckless action can cause, are no less harrowing. To be sure, in a single year in Oklahoma, there were 1,615 total fatal and injury alcohol-related crashes recorded by the Oklahoma Office of Highway Safety.
If you have been involved in an alcohol-related crash in Oklahoma City, you deserve to be compensated for the losses you have incurred. Contact our Oklahoma City drunk driving accident lawyer today for a free consultation.
Holding a Drunk Driver Liable for Your Damages
If you are involved in a crash caused by a drunk driver, it is very likely that you have suffered serious injuries. Potential injuries incurred in a drunk driving crash include, but are not limited to, head injuries, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, internal injuries, scarring and disfigurement, soft tissues injuries, and fracture injuries. These injuries are not only painful and sometimes permanently debilitating, but carry large economic and noneconomic costs, ranging from medical bills to emotional suffering.
When a car accident occurs in Oklahoma City, the at-fault driver is responsible for paying for damages. Typically, injured parties can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance, or file a lawsuit directly against the at-fault driver.
Proving Fault after a Crash
If you have proof that the at-fault driver was intoxicated beyond the legal limit of .08 percent BAC (blood alcohol concentration) at the time that the crash occurred, then this proof can be used to demonstrate fault and hold the driver liable. The results of a blood or breath alcohol test are ideal.
However, even if you do not have the results of a blood or breath alcohol test available to you, or if the results show that the driver had alcohol in their system, but not above the legal limit of .08 percent, you can still hold the driver liable for your harm if you can prove that your accident would not have occurred but for their negligence/carelessness/recklessness. You can prove this by using video footage, witnesses’ testimonies, police reports, and other forms of evidence.
Keep in mind that driving while intoxicated is a crime, and the at-fault party may have criminal charges brought against them as such. However, the outcome of a criminal case will not offer you recompense for your damages, which is why it is essential to pursue a civil action. Civil and criminal actions are independent of one another.
The Benefits of Working with Our Oklahoma City Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys
At the Owens Law Office, PC, we are passionate about the work that we do, and very serious about keeping drunk drivers off of the road. When those who choose to drink and drive cause injuries to our clients, we want to do something about it. When you choose our law firm, you are choosing an advocate who truly cares about the outcome of your case, and will aggressively negotiate on your behalf.
More than passion, we also have the legal skills and resources your case demands. We know how to investigate a crash, obtain police reports, and request the results of an at-fault driver’s BAC. We also know how to construct a case, negotiate with an insurance adjuster, and valuate damages to ensure you’re getting every cent that you deserve. When at out of court settlement cannot be reached, our attorneys are not intimidated by the idea of litigation.
Contact Our Law Offices Today
If you have been injured by a drunk driver in Oklahoma City, contact the experienced drunk driving accident attorneys at Owens Law Office, PC. We will competently build your claim, and won’t back down. You can reach us to schedule your free consultation by calling us directly, or by sending us a message online. We are here for you!