North Carolina drunk driving accidents should never happen. When someone gets behind the wheel after consuming alcoholic beverages, they are breaking important laws aimed at protecting the safety of drivers and pedestrians on the road, as well as the driver. But unfortunately, North Carolina drunk driving accidents happen and result in major injuries and fatalities. According to NCDOT, there were 7,426 injury-causing drunk driving accidents in NC in 2020 and 412 deaths. In breaking the law by getting behind the wheel and driving, these individuals can also be held responsible in a civil personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit to give the accident victims money for the impact the accident has now had on their life. At the North Carolina drunk driving accident law firm of Tatum & Atkinson, we can help get you paid following your accident or the loss of a loved one. We have been helping people with this type of personal injury or wrongful death case for decades and know how to maximize your case value provide a sense of justice and closure. Get in touch with us now for your totally free case evaluation and pay us absolutely nothing unless we get you paid. We are ready to get started fighting for you today! Call now 800-LAW-0804
North Carolina drunk driving accident can happen anywhere at any time but they are much more likely in the evening or early morning on weekends and holidays. Whether you were hit in your car, motorcycle, bike or as a pedestrian, the physical and emotional devastation of this type of accident can be tremendous. Because the driver is impaired and unable to quickly react or fully recognize his or her surroundings when driving, some of the more common drunk driving scenarios that lead to major injuries and death include:
These types of accident can cause temporary and permanent injuries to the parties involved. Injuries include things like whiplash, broken bones, traumatic brain injury, burns, spine and nerve injuries. Seek any and all necessary medical help as soon as possible following your accident—not only will this help you feel better and get a full picture of your injuries but it also provides essential documentation for your personal injury case with us.
Drunk driving cases can get confusing—are you filing charges to have the person punished or you filing a case to get money? The truth is both things usually happen when it comes to drunk driving accidents. When someone is found to be driving over the legal blood and alcohol limit, the state will press their own separate criminal charges and it is on you to call us and file a civil lawsuit. The two different charges do not hinge on one another and you also do not (and should not) wait until there is a criminal case to get started. The sooner you get started on your personal injury case, the sooner we can get you paid.
Civil drunk driving cases (i.e. personal injury and wrongful death cases) seek to show that the driver was impaired and caused an accident with injuries and get you money. In addition to covering your current medical bills, a winning personal injury case can also get you funds for things like:
Do not make the mistake of assuming that just because there are charges pressed against the responsible driver that your civil case will be taken case of too—it will not, these are separate actions. When there has been a death stemming from the accident, we file a wrongful death lawsuit. In these cases, you can also recover things like funeral and burial expenses, missing incoming and contributions and more. Your case can be worth a lot of money when you work with us. Let us help make sure that you get the money you need to feel better and move forward from your accident.
When you get in a drunk driving accident, the possibility for a hit and run is much higher than a sober accident with another vehicle. Reasons for this include: impaired ability to recognize the gravity of the accident and fear of legal charges and their consequences. While police work hard to track down the responsible party, all is not lost if they don’t. If you were hit and injured by a driver that then fled the scene of the accident, we can file a lawsuit against your own insurance coverage and seek out payment this alternative way.
In the state of North Carolina, you are required to carry something known as Uninsured Motorist coverage for scenarios exactly like this—when the other driver does not have insurance to cover the damage they caused. The state requires drivers to carry $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident in uninsured bodily injury coverage. But just because it is your insurance company, do not assume they are on your side. Insurance companies, even after years as a loyal, paying customer will still try to cheat you out of what you deserve. We don’t let that happen.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, you are devastated not only by what has happened, but by the effect that the injury or loss has had on you and your family. Drunk driving accidents are especially frustrating given the irresponsible choices the other driver made that has now left you injured. The drunk driver who caused your injuries may be held liable for financial damages. A car accident can leave you with serious medical bills and lost wages, not to mention the emotional trauma that comes from being involved in an incident like this one! At this difficult time, you need an experienced team that will support you through your road to recovery. Call Tatum & Atkinson today! We take all our cases on a contingency fee basis so you pay us nothing unless we win. We are ready to get started today!