GlastonburyDrunk Driving Accident Lawyer

When individuals drink too much or indulge in illicit drugs before getting behind the wheel, they are putting their own desires above everyone else’s safety. When those people hit other vehicles, they can leave a trail of pain and despair in their wake. If you or a loved one has been a victim of one of these careless drivers, you have the right to pursue justice and compensation for your losses by working with a drunk driving accident injury lawyer in Glastonbury, CT.

At Tehrani Law Group, we are dedicated to helping those who were injured by negligent or careless motorists. Our Glastonbury car accident lawyer investigates your case, identifies everyone who is to blame, and holds them accountable under the law. Set up your free consultation with us today.

You Can Be Hurt By a Driver Using Alcohol or Drugs

Most people only think of intoxicated drivers as those who have too many alcoholic drinks before operating their vehicle. Yet you can be injured by someone who uses illegal drugs or even ones prescribed to them. The critical issue is that a person decided to get in their car and drive with altered judgment and perception. 

Driver Impairment from Both Drugs and Alcohol

The legal limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) under Connecticut DUI Law is 0.08 for those over 21 and 0.02 for those under that age. At that level, the law considers you impaired and unable to safely operate a vehicle. Law enforcement officers will issue citations and enact penalties against drunk drivers, who may lose their license to drive or face jail if convicted.

People who use drugs can also experience diminished reflexes and judgment, even if they are taking prescription or legal substances. Many painkillers or muscle relaxers come with a warning against operating heavy machinery, which includes vehicles, while taking them. Those who use recreational substances or illegal drugs also find it difficult to drive safely, putting everyone on the road at extreme risk of harm.

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 30% of all traffic incidents nationally involved drunk drivers in the most recent reporting year. Yet even though Connecticut is a small state, our rate of drunk driving accidents averaged 37% of all cases. Startlingly, more than a quarter of alcohol-involved crashes included drivers with a BAC above 0.15, nearly twice the legal limit.

While the Connecticut Department of Transportation and law enforcement officers come down harshly on drunk drivers, this does not help you with the injuries and other losses you suffer after someone hurts you. Drivers under the influence often do not brake in time to lessen the effects of an accident, meaning you could experience substantial harm in a crash. In addition, combining winter weather with drunk driving commonly results in fatal collisions. 

You Can Suffer Significant Injuries When Hit by a Drunk Driver

The NHTSA reports that alcohol dramatically increases the risk of injury during an accident, primarily due to slowed reaction times, inability to accurately track changes in the environment, and decreased muscle coordination. In addition, the majority of victims in these crashes are passengers or those in other vehicles, while the drunk drivers themselves are often unharmed. 

Because drunk drivers fail to slow down, stop, or take other actions to prevent a collision, you could wind up with severe or even catastrophic injuries, including the following:

• Broken Legs, Feet, and Pelvis: If a drunk driver crosses the center line and hits your car head-on, your vehicle’s firewall may violently shove your legs against your body, destroying the bones in your feet or causing a pelvic fracture.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries: The sudden back-and-forth movement of a vehicle impact can shake your brain inside your skull, leaving you with bleeding, bruising, or tearing. Injuries such as coup and contrecoup conditions can cause loss of cognitive and physical ability. 
• Internal Bleeding and Organ Damage: Sudden impact from the steering wheel, seatbelt, and steering column can injure your organs, including your heart. You may suffer internal bleeding, which can lead to death within a few hours with little warning. 
• Facial Injuries: Whether you remain in your vehicle or are thrown from it, you could suffer harm to your eyes, mouth, nose, and other parts of your face or neck, resulting in vision loss or difficulty speaking. 

Recovering from these injuries often requires extensive treatment, time, and money. You may need initial surgery and subsequent procedures to get back to your previous level of health, or you could be permanently disabled for the rest of your life. Regardless of how severe your injuries are, a drunk driving accident attorney from Tehrani Law Group will diligently prepare and present your claim for full financial relief.

While a drunk driver may face criminal charges from the state, you will recover nothing to help you with the injuries they caused. To do that, you can partner with a drunk driving accident lawyer from Tehrani Law Group to collect evidence and bring a civil lawsuit against the driver. We will assemble the strongest case possible and seek all available compensation.

Settlements and Seeking Damages in Court

The Connecticut Insurance Department informs us that all drivers must carry minimum levels of liability insurance to pay for at least $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person (and $50,000 per accident) and $25,000 property damage coverage. These values rarely cover the full value of a drunk driving accident injury claim, but your DUI accident lawyer will forcefully negotiate with the driver’s insurance company for a fair settlement.

If the insurer does not meet our request from a demand letter, we prepare your case for trial while we continue to try reaching a compromise. Ultimately, we do not rest until we secure as much compensation as possible so you are not left with unpaid bills or future expenses. We include all at-fault parties and their insurers to maximize your recovery opportunities. 

Every case is different, but when you suffer serious injuries as a result of a drunk driver’s negligence, you could recover thousands to pay for your associated expenses. Some of the damages we seek compensation for with our drunk driving accident clients include:

• The cost of emergency transport by helicopter or ambulance for treatment
• ICU and ER care
• Surgical costs, including revisions or further repair
• Medications, blood products, and organ transplants
• In-home nursing or nursing rehabilitation costs
• Home renovation fees to accommodate disability
• Travel expenses for attending medical appointments
• Reimbursement for income you could not earn while recovering
• The value of lost bonuses, wages, and retirement savings
• Medical and mobility devices
• Therapy and rehabilitation treatment costs

Mandatory auto insurance policies in Connecticut provide a minimum of $25,000 for your bodily injuries, which may not even cover the cost of your ER treatment. If you are left unable to care for yourself and earn a living, your DUI accident attorney can calculate the estimated cost of your lifelong care and lost earning capacity. At Tehrani Law Group, we examine your circumstances closely to uncover every potential expense and include it in your demands.

Your Pain and Suffering After a Drunk Driving Accident

Beyond your economic costs for medical treatment and property loss, you have the right to ask for financial acknowledgment of your non-economic damages. The pain you experience, especially if it becomes chronic or lifelong, deserves compensation. It is more difficult to secure this from an insurance claim settlement, but if your case goes to court, your attorney can request full payment for all your intangible harm.

Changes in Your Overall Quality of Life

You may have a diminished quality of life, no longer able to enjoy your previous hobbies or activities with your family. You could develop anxiety, depression, or PTSD, preventing you from engaging in work or other necessary vocations. If your injuries leave you disfigured or scarred, you may shy away from going out in public or even lose your income if your job demands you appear in front of others. 

Each client will have different experiences, and each deserves a fair settlement that honors how the drunk driver affected their life. When you trust in our team, we promise to make every effort to recover all that you need for every loss. 

When you come to us with a case, we answer your questions and determine the best approach for getting the results you need. When considering how to win a drunk driving accident case, we can guide you through the steps to protect the integrity of your claim.

Gathering Relevant Evidence After a DUI Crash

We collect all relevant evidence, collaborate with experts, and present our demands to the other side. If they do not come to us with a fair settlement, we begin the process of taking your case to court, which may prompt a better offer.

Demonstrating Fault and the Impact of the Accident

Our goal is to demonstrate how the drunk driver is at fault by showing how they owed you a duty of care to avoid getting on the road after drinking too much. We then present evidence showing how they broke their duty to you, using police reports, BAC test results, and witness statements. We use your medical records to drive home the extent and severity of your injuries, connecting them to the drunk driver’s negligent actions.

Helping You Understand the Value of Your Claim

Finally, we present our calculations for the full value of your claim, demanding compensation from the at-fault driver under the law. During insurance talks, the company may make a quick offer that seems promising, but we will advise you when we believe they can pay more. While we do not want to waste your time or money, we have the experience to recognize when we can push harder to get the settlement you need. 

There are several laws that could change the course of your lawsuit, but our team thoroughly researches each case so we are not caught off guard.

Modified Comparative Negligence

For example,  Connecticut General Statutes § 52-572h discusses the state’s modified comparative negligence principle that could affect your ability to seek compensation. Under this law, if the evidence shows that you carry more than 51% of fault in your crash, you cannot file for damages.

If you are partly to blame for less than 51%, the assigned amount reduces what you receive in a settlement in negotiations or jury award at trial. Suppose the defendant’s lawyer presents evidence that you were speeding at the time their client hit you while driving drunk. The court may award 20% fault to you, reducing your compensation by 20%.

Two-Year Statute of Limitations

Another important law is the Connecticut statute of limitations, which allows just two years after your accident to file your lawsuit. If you wait too long, your DUI accident injury lawyer may have too little time to prepare your case. There are additional exceptions to the statute that could give you more time, but many may shorten it. It is essential to contact an attorney for a consultation as soon as possible after your crash.