A DUI crash is not an accident. It is the result of a decision to get behind the wheel while impaired. The person who made that choice needs to be held accountable for what happened to you.
If you or someone you love was hurt by a drunk driver, you are probably dealing with more than just physical injuries right now. There are medical bills and an insurance process that can feel designed to wear you down.
At CR Legal Team, our Monroe car accident lawyers are here to carry that weight with you. Our Legal Team brings over 600 years of combined legal experience and has recovered billions of dollars for more than 200,000 clients across North Carolina. When you need DUI accident lawyers serving Monroe, we are ready. Contact us for a free case evaluation.
Why DUI Accident Cases Require Experienced Legal Representation
A DUI accident case might seem open and shut when there is a blood alcohol content reading and a criminal charge involved. But the civil side of these cases is rarely simple. Here is why experienced legal representation matters:
Insurance Companies Still Fight Back
Even when liability seems obvious, the drunk driver’s insurance company will look for ways to minimize your claim. They may question the severity of your injuries, argue about the extent of your future medical bills, or attempt to assign some portion of fault to you under North Carolina’s contributory negligence rule.
Calculating the True Value of Your Claim is Complex
Medical bills you have already received are just the beginning. Future medical costs, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life all need to be carefully calculated and documented. Getting this wrong can leave you without the resources you need for long-term recovery.
Evidence Needs to Be Preserved Quickly
Blood tests and breath test results, surveillance footage, witness accounts, and other evidence disappear or become harder to obtain over time. Our Monroe personal injury lawyers can secure and preserve everything that matters to your case.
Multiple Parties May Be Involved
If the driver was operating a company vehicle or an establishment sold alcohol to the drunk driver while they were visibly intoxicated (a violation under G.S. 18B-305), we may be able to bring a claim against multiple parties. Building a case against additional people or companies requires careful legal strategy and thorough investigation.
DUI Limits Vary in North Carolina
DUI stands for driving under the influence. In North Carolina, it is also commonly referred to as driving while impaired, or DWI. Both terms refer to the same thing: operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both.
North Carolina law sets the legal blood alcohol concentration limit at 0.08% for most drivers. Commercial drivers are held to a stricter standard of 0.04%, and drivers under 21 are subject to a zero-tolerance policy.
When a driver’s blood alcohol content exceeds the legal limit or when impairment is evident, they are breaking the law. If you were hurt in an alcohol-related crash, you have the right to pursue compensation from the person who caused it. Our Monroe DUI accident lawyers can help.
The Difference Between a Criminal Case and Your Civil Claim
Many people assume that the outcome of the drunk driver’s criminal case determines whether they can recover compensation. It does not. The criminal case and your civil lawsuit are completely separate matters. The criminal case is the state’s business. Its purpose is to punish the driver for breaking the law, and you have no control over how it unfolds or how it ends.
Your civil lawsuit exists for a different reason entirely. It is your right to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and every other way this crash has disrupted your life. You can move forward with an insurance or civil claim, whether or not the driver was convicted or even charged.
The two processes can run simultaneously. Evidence gathered in the criminal case, like blood tests, breath tests, blood alcohol content results, and police reports, can often strengthen your civil claim directly.
Click to contact our Car Accident Lawyers Serving Monroe today.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
When someone’s decision to drive while impaired causes you harm, our Monroe drunk driving accident lawyers can help you seek compensation for the full impact of that harm. Depending on the circumstances of your case, that can include:
- Medical bills for emergency treatment, hospitalization, and care already received
- Future medical bills for ongoing treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, or long-term care
- Medical costs related to therapy, assistive devices, or home care needs
- Lost wages for the time you were unable to work during your recovery
- Loss of earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term
- Pain and suffering for the physical pain and emotional toll the crash has placed on your life
- Emotional trauma, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and the psychological impact of the accident
- Property damage to your vehicle and personal belongings
- Loss of enjoyment of life if your injuries have changed what you are able to do day to day
- Wrongful death damages if you lost a family member in the crash, including funeral costs, loss of financial support, and compensation for your grief
In cases involving particularly reckless behavior, such as a driver with a very high blood alcohol concentration or a prior DUI history, North Carolina courts may also allow for punitive damages. These are additional damages designed to punish the wrongdoer and send a message that this kind of behavior has consequences.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now.
Contact Our DUI Accident Lawyers Serving Monroe to Learn More
When you’re hit by a drunk driver, they may not always be automatically held responsible. To best protect your rights and compensation, you need someone who knows what complications and obstacles exist.
Our DUI accident attorneys serving Monroe have that experience, and our track record reflects decades of genuine commitment to the people we represent. We take the time necessary to build the strongest possible claim before we ever go to the negotiating table.
Don’t put your compensation claim at risk. Reach out to CR Legal Team today for a free case evaluation and find out how we will use Whole-Person Legal Care™ to Stand Up For You throughout the duration of your claim.
