Phoenix Drunk Driving Accident Attorney

Jan 18, 2022 | By Jason Hutzler | Read Time: 8 minutes | Uncategorized

Injured? Call Phoenix Personal Injury Attorney Jason Hutzler Today! (480) 618-7685

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The Importance of Contacting a DUI Accident Attorney

Have you or someone you love been injured in an accident that involved a driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs? If you have, then it is essential to understand that DUI accidents caused by an impaired driver are a serious crime that puts over 112 million people at risk each year. When a person combines poor decision-making skills with a hazardous habit, it can and will call severe accidents and potentially the death of another person.

If you are one of the unfortunate individuals who have been injured due to a negligent drunk driver, you already have an understanding of how it can change your life. Due to the accident, you could have been or already are severely injured, lost someone dear to you, or had an extensive amount of damage done to your property. Always remember, your world should never have to become chaotic and tossed upside down because of a mistake the other driver made.

Our unique team of personal injury attorneys and legal professionals is here and ready to help you take a stand and fight for what is right. Our ultimate goal and dedication are to help you get compensation for your injuries and the amount you deserve to help with the aftermath of the accident. To find out more about DUI cases and compensation amounts, all you have to do is contact one of our professional attorneys today.

Anytime someone is injured by a drunk driver, it is important to remember that it is okay to be upset and distraught. Even if your personal injury case is on the smaller side, the fact of the matter is that an innocent person has suffered and sustained injuries because of the negligence and irresponsibility of another person.

Not only does this anger you if you are the victim, but it also angers your community.

Our main goal as personal injury attorneys is to help you pursue the case and accident claim with aggressiveness to help you find justice for everyone that has had their lives affected by an intoxicated driver.

One of our tactics is to look at nightclubs, bars, and restaurants that do not follow serving regulations in Arizona. From 2003-2012 in Arizona, there were approximately 2,912 people killed due to an intoxicated driver.

Even though taking action to receive compensation will not bring a family member back, it can surely help you recover financially with the cost of funeral services and time off from work. Commonly, victims only sue the drunk driver by using the general negligence law. Although it involves less work, sometimes being uninsured or underinsured can ultimately affect the outcome of the case. Learn more about your rights and being involved in a car accident without any insurance.

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Immediately after a car accident or other types of injury, it is very important that you speak with an experienced attorney that has years of experience in dealing with the process.

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Arizona Statistics of DUI Accidents caused by a Drunk Driver

If you find it difficult to recuperate from your losses due to the impaired driver’s assets, it is vital to take the next step and pursue a case against the individual or establishment that had provided alcohol to the opposite party the night of the accident. In saying that, let us talk about the reality of drunk driving accidents. The statistics of drunk drivers in Arizona can give you an alarming reality on the irresponsible actions of many adults.

Drunk driving is still considered a very serious concern that unfortunately affects thousands of people and their families every year, even though the numbers are decreasing.

Below are some unfortunate but interesting statistics that were published by the Arizona Department of Transportation as well as the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety:

In 2018, there were a total of 4,484 men and women involved in accidents involving a drunk driver. (Source)
When it comes to age groups, men and women between the ages of 25 and 34 caused the most drunk-driving accidents, with 1,425 total accidents in the year 2018. (Source)
Every 33 seconds, someone is killed in a drunk driving accident. (Source)
Sadly, in the year 2003, there were a total of 38,252 fatal drunk driving accidents. (Source)
In 2003, the total fatalities within the 38, 252 accidents, there were 42,643 deaths. (Source)
In the year 2018, 261 people were killed in drunk driving accidents. (Source)
A total of 43 percent of the injured drunk drivers were also speeding at the time of the accident. (Source)
In 2017, 48% of drunk driving accidents caused the injury or death of passengers and drivers involved in the accidents. (Source)
In the entire state of Arizona, 53.39% of drunk drivers were males in 2017. (Source)
4,203 accidents related to drunk driving happened on dry surfaces with no weather conditions affecting the driver’s ability to drive properly. (Source)
In the year 2014 in Arizona, there were 770 fatalities related to drunk driving accidents. (Source)
Even younger drivers have been the cause of drunk driving accidents that injured others. In 2017, 9 teenagers under the age of 16 were the cause of these accidents.

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Insurance Coverage for DUI Caused Accidents

Accidents that involve another person driving under the influence might not generally be covered by an insurance company. If the person driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol was convicted, it could make things much more difficult. This is the exact reason why it is so important to have a professional car accident attorney to represent you and your personal injury case.

Getting compensation for your injuries related to the accident after the driver has been incarcerated can become rather difficult. Even though the driver is still liable, it is most likely that they do not have the finances or assets to cover your losses, especially if they are not covered by insurance. What this means is that your chances may decrease of getting the money that you need to cover your injuries and property damage.

Always keep in mind that there are always other ways to seek compensation. For example, a full investigation can help you discover other sources of income that the responsible party has. If you act quickly, you can potentially have some of your losses covered by their family or even their employer.

Responsibility of Bars or Other Places that Serve Alcohol – Dram Shop Laws

Servers that distribute alcohol can potentially be reliable in the state of Arizona under their law for the actions of a drunk driver. The laws fall under ARS § 4-311 and potentially can change the liability of the consumer to the person who served them alcoholic beverages. Therefore, making it nearly possible to be able to pursue action against the venues through the negligence law or Arizona’s state laws.

Liquor (or “dram shop”) acts are actually laws that throw light on the legal responsibility of any venues that sell alcohol products. These laws related to alcohol cover the absentmindedness of the sellers that have provided alcoholic beverages to any minors or to people who are already noticeably intoxicated.

ARS § 4-311 clearly states that any establishment can and will be held responsible for the destructive and dangerous actions of the individuals they served to a minor or a noticeably intoxicated person.

Can I Sue the Bar or Restaurant?

The Dram Shop Act makes it potentially possible to hold restaurants, clubs, and bars financially liable if they were to serve alcohol to a minor or to an individual who was visibly drunk. Stores that sell alcohol can also be held liable under these same laws. An attorney that specializes in DUI accident cases can help you determine which one of these parties can be held responsible and how it can directly affect your case.

In order to find out more information on these laws and how they directly affect accidents related to drunk driving, search “Dram Shop Liability” in your search engine. By searching for the information only, you can have further insight on how to pursue your case by using these specific types of laws pertaining to your lawsuit. For any further on the matter, you can contact one of our professional attorneys.

What to do if Involved in a DUI Car Accident

If you or someone you love are the victims of a drunk driving accident, you need to take action right away and gather evidence. An investigation always needs to be conducted in a timely fashion. This means that doctors also need to act quickly and assess your injuries right away. By calling us today at (480) 618-7685 or by filling out our Free Case Evaluation form below, we can help give you a simple injury assessment for your case right away.

The initial consultation for your personal injury is free. If our firm decides to take on your case, we will be sure to work on it on a contingency fee basis. Our accident lawyers here in Arizona only receive compensation if you win your case and are awarded money. If you have a valid case and claim, you could quite possibly be entitled to reimbursement. Keep in mind that your lawsuit will need to be filed first while remembering that there is an expiration to Arizona’s statute of limitations.

Financially Recover After a Drunk Driver Accident

All victims of an accident that involves a drunk driver are entitled to try and recover their financial losses. These victims of the accident could have experienced injuries as well as other damages that were caused by the intoxicated driver.

These damages could potentially include certain compensatory damages such as:

Future medical care and its costs
Medical bills
Loss of income
Loss of any future earnings
Damages to property
Suffering and physical pain

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Accidents that Involve Underage DUI

If a teenager just so happened to be the cause of a drunk driving accident, their parents could potentially be liable. The reason they can be held responsible is due to the fact that they entrusted their own personal vehicle to their teenager. This is exceptionally incriminating if the parents were aware of their child having substance abuse problems.

Although this particular type of situation can be laborious and hard to prove, a professional attorney can help guide you through the case. Your attorney will also be able to help you investigate the situation and find further witnesses that may potentially have better insight into the teenager’s substance abuse history. By contacting one of our highly qualified attorneys, you get the help you need with figuring out if you have a solid case.

Wrongful Death and Punitive Damages

Any relatives of someone that was killed in an accident related to a DUI can also try and seek out compensation. The claims are called “wrongful death claims” and are processed on a case-by-case basis. This typically requires the helpful hand of a wrongful death attorney.

We understand the burden of a wrongful death case and how devastating it can be for everyone involved.

By reaching out to our team of professional attorneys, we can help guide you through the process and relieve some of the stress that was placed on your shoulders. Before you might consider the case a loss, contact us for a free consultation that could potentially change the outcome of your future.

Driving while under the influence is a very reckless act that every community wants to put a complete stop to. Aside from seeking out compensation for the damages, the judge on your case could potentially order the intoxicated driver to pay “punitive damages.” These are generally present in more prominent cases.

These cases are considered to be significant when the intoxicated driver’s actions were considered to be egregious. For example, any driver with previous criminal convictions such as DUI charges, a suspended license, or a vehicle cause death might possibly have to pay punitive damages along with the standard compensation. To find out more about your case and whether or not you can seek out punitive damages, contact us today.

Contact a DUI Accident Attorney to Seek Justice and Fight For Your Rights as a Victim

If you or someone dear to you has been the victim of a drunk driver, contact one of our attorneys today at Hutzler Law by calling (480) 618-7685 during the day or even at night to schedule a completely free consultation. It only takes around 30-60 minutes for us to go over your case from top to bottom.

Our legal team is there for you – no matter the circumstances!

There is always a possibility that you may be entitled to a substantial amount of compensation for your injuries and losses.

In saying this, it is critical that you reach out to one of our attorneys immediately for a free consultation. You never know what the outcome of your case will be until you act right away and get the help you need.

Jason Hutzler

Jason Hutzler is the founding partner of Phoenix personal injury law firm Hutzler Law, and represents individuals throughout Arizona. His practice is primarily dedicated to personal injury and car accident claims, leveraging his deep expertise as a former insurance adjustor to navigate the complexities of insurance negotiations.

DUI Accident – Accident Caused by Drunk Driver