It depends on several factors, but the answer may be yes. I’ll get to why in a moment.
One of my greatest joys is being able to help Mobile area people injured by the negligence of drunk drivers. This type of accident really angers me. It is truly a type of accident that could have been prevented, and the injured person has done nothing wrong.
Like any traffic accident, here are some areas that can determine how much money you receive:
- Medical Expenses – You deserve to be compensated for the money you were forced to pay out to get better.
- Pain and Suffering – This compensates you not only for your physical pain but also for your emotional distress.
- Lost Pay – You deserve compensation for the money you lost from missed work. We also want you compensated for any work you might miss in the future, which includes having to take a job that pays less.
- Property Damage – This is usually the cost of getting your vehicle back to its condition before the accident.
And here is the area that can dramatically impact a drunk driving case:
- Punitive Damages – This is the money that the court specifies so that the wrongdoer does not repeat his or her action. This can come into play for several reasons, including when the driver has a history of drinking and driving or was grossly over the legal limit. It can amount to several times the amount of the original award.
Now for the negative. Two things can reduce the amount of money you will receive.
In Alabama, if you are even a bit at fault, you cannot collect anything. That is why you must never admit fault in an accident. Remember, we must prove that the other driver was totally to blame.
The other area is insurance coverage. You cannot get money where none exists. It is possible that the drunk driver who hit you has limited or no insurance and no assets like a big bank account, land, or a business. This is one of the reasons I strongly encourage you to have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Remember, being under the influence isn’t just alcohol but can also be drugs – both prescription and illegal drugs. There is a reason some prescriptions say not to drive while taking.
If you are injured in a personal injury accident, you can talk to us at the law firm of Steele Ritchie for free. We genuinely want to help. We are local attorneys with decades of experience helping people, especially in the southwest Mobile area.
Give us a call at (251) 666-1212. We are proud to be called the “personal injury lawyers near me” by many people here in Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
Allen Ritchie