CONNECTICUTDrunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Each week seems to bring another story of a drunk driver striking pedestrians or plowing into another vehicle on the road. Although drunk driving is clearly illegal, too many motorists reach for their car keys after having too many drinks, and innocent people often pay the price. At Tehrani Law Group, we help accident victims seek compensation when they suffer bodily injuries in a drunk-driving crash. 

If you contact us today, we can begin building a case against the impaired driver.  Our Connecticut DUI injury attorney highlights some crucial information you need to know about these types of claims and how you can recover compensation.

The number of alcohol-related accidents in Connecticut is sobering. Connecticut actually has one of the worst drunk driving statistics in the nation at large:

According to the CDC, about 2.1% of Connecticut drivers admit to driving after drinking too much. This is higher than the national average of 1.9%. And remember: this number represents only the people who will admit to driving drunk. The actual number is likely much, much higher.

Other government statistics show that drunk driving accounts for roughly 38% of the state’s fatal car accidents. This was one of the highest percentages in the nation.

Hundreds of people are killed every year in impaired driving crashes, and hundreds more are seriously injured.

How Alcohol Impairs Drivers

There is a reason that drunk driving is illegal. Any amount of alcohol in a person’s system can impair performance behind the wheel. For example, even one drink can:

• Slow a person’s reflexes so they don’t brake in time or take defensive action to avoid a collision
• Impair a person’s ability to make sensible decisions
• Cause blurred or double vision, making it impossible for them to see properly
• Exaggerate the effects of fatigue, possibly causing a driver to fall asleep
• Impel a motorist to flee after hitting a pedestrian or motorist out of fear of a drunk driving arrest

Many drugs also cause similar impairments. For example, marijuana is an increasingly popular recreational drug, but it has many of the same effects as those described above. Even prescription drugs might cause drowsiness and lead to collisions. Other narcotics such as heroin, Fentanyl, Oxycodone (such as OxyContin), Hydrocodone (such as Vicodin), Morphine, Methadone, Cocaine, Crack cocaine, Methamphetamine (meth), Adderall (amphetamine), Ritalin (methylphenidate), Xanax (alprazolam), Valium (diazepam), Ambien (zolpidem), LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), PCP (phencyclidine), Ecstasy (MDMA), and others can also cause driver impairment and serious injuries in an auto accident.

Drunk driving accidents tend to be more damaging than ordinary collisions. One reason is that many drunk drivers are speeding, which generates more force when their car collides with a person or vehicle. Other reasons include the tendency of drunk drivers to flee the scene, leaving a badly hurt person to fight for their life without any assistance.

At Tehrani Law Group, we have helped those suffering from:

• Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
• Back injuries
• Spinal column injuries
• Paralysis
• Amputation
• Crush injuries
• Burns
• Broken bones

Although it is possible to recover from these DUI-caused accidents, victims need immediate medical attention to begin the path to full recovery. In some extreme circumstances, victims of these auto accidents require years of therapy, rehabilitation, treatment, and medication to get back to where they once were.

Compensation You Can Receive

After a collision, you need to receive compensation to make up for the injuries you have suffered and the losses you have incurred. Our clients often have very high expenses, and we can seek full compensation for:

• Medical care to treat your injuries
• Lost wages or income if you needed time off
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of a loved one (often referred to as “wrongful death”)

You might also request punitive damages, which are designed to punish the defendant for extremely dangerous conduct. A DUI accident victim can’t receive punitive damages in every car accident but, if the defendant’s conduct was intentional or exhibited reckless indifference to others, then we can make a case for them to be implemented.

Dram Shop Lawsuits

A dram shop law gives victims the right to sue the business that served alcohol to the person who hurt them. Under Connecticut General Statute § 30-102, you can sue for up to $250,000 if the defendant sold alcohol to an “intoxicated” person.

For example, the motorist who hit you might have been visibly drunk at a bar or tavern. Still, the staff continued to serve the person, who then left and got into a collision. In this type of situation, any hurt by the drunk driver could turn around and sue the establishment that served them.

The seconds following a collision are disorientating, stressful, and overwhelming. Many people have no idea what happened and often go into shock. As seasoned Connecticut DWI injury lawyers, we understand how the steps you take immediately following a crash can strengthen or weaken your case.

First, you should call a police officer to the scene. The officer can investigate and if he suspects the driver is intoxicated, administer field sobriety tests or even a chemical test. This information will be very helpful later for your case.

Second, if you can move around, we strongly recommend that you also take pictures of the vehicles involved, the accident scene, street signs, license plates, witnesses, and the other driver, and speak to witnesses. This evidence could prove crucial in your personal injury case. You also should contact our firm so we can begin the investigations and negotiations on your behalf. The sooner our Connecticut injury lawyers can be involved with your case, the greater chance we’ll have at securing a positive result for your case.

This is another vital step in maximizing your compensation and holding the intoxicated driver accountable for their reckless actions. Schedule a free, initial consultation with our firm so we can explain your rights and provide an overview of the compensation you might receive. Our firm, while located in Glastonbury, proudly serves clients throughout Hartford County, Tolland County, and New London County including but not limited to Hartford, East and West Hartford, Manchester, Wethersfield, Norwich, Avon, Bloomfield, Windsor, Vernon, and other locations.