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In 2019, there were 4,907 drunk driving accidents in Arizona. A drunk driving accident can cause serious or fatal injuries, damage to your car, and significant pain and suffering. After a drunk driving accident, you may face an increased financial burden from unexpected medical bills, lost wages, and automobile repairs. That’s why it’s important to call Tuscon drunk driving accident lawyers.
The DUI car accident lawyers at Zinda Law Group have experience representing victims of drunk driving accidents. Call us today at (800)-863-5312 for a free attorney consultation with skilled Tucson drunk driving lawyers and let us help you get back on the road to recovery.
For a free legal consultation with a drunk driving accidents lawyer serving Tucson, call 800-863-5312
DRUNK DRIVING STATISTICS IN ARIZONA
According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, 256 people were killed in Arizona in 2019 in car crashes where a driver was under the influence of alcohol. The crashes involving a drunk driver also resulted in 2,969 people sustaining injuries. Tucson is located in Pima County, and the state’s crash data is separated by county rather than being city-specific; Pima County had the second highest number of crashes in Arizona, with 516 crashes in a year.
Drivers are considered to be alcohol-impaired when they have a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) over .08 grams per deciliter (g/dL). When a person operates a vehicle with a BAC over .08, they may face fines, jail time, and license suspension. They may be charged criminally for this crime. If the drunk driver serves time, a drunk driving victim may think they have no recourse for getting compensation for their injuries. However, as victim, you are entitled to recover damages for your injuries, damage to your vehicle, and pain and suffering.
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COMMON INJURIES
Drunk drivers can cause a range of damages, from minor fender-benders to high-speed collisions. An intoxicated driver will likely have less coordination, poorer judgment, and slower reaction time when driving. All of these factors increase the chances of serious injuries for victims of drunk driving accidents. Some of the most common types of injuries suffered by people hit by drunk drivers include:
- Whiplash
- Cuts and bruises
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Chest injuries
- Broken bones
The severity and degree of your injuries will depend on the collision type. Drunk drivers may also become drowsy and fall asleep at the wheel, fail to obey traffic signals, and veer into oncoming traffic; this can cause head-on collisions, rear-end collisions, motorcycle accidents, and pedestrian collisions. Each type of accident can lead to serious injuries or death for drunk driving victims.
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Common types of drunk driving accidents
Drunk driving can cause serious accidents and injuries. While many types of crashes can occur when an intoxicated driver gets behind the wheel, some of the most common collisions include:
Rear-End Collisions
Drunk drivers may be unable to accurately measure the distance between your car and theirs, which can result in a rear-end crash. In some cases, this could be a minor bump, but in serious cases, drunk drivers may fail to brake and come speeding into the rear of your car. In 2019, rear-ending was the most common type of collision, tallying at over 1,240 drunk driving accidents.
Left Turns
Left turns often require pulling into the intersection and timing your turn so that you do not hit the oncoming car. However, drunk drivers may incorrectly measure the distance or speed of oncoming traffic. In 2019, 297 alcohol-related cases involved a left-turn crash.
Sideswiped
When intoxicated individuals swerve or drift outside of their line, they are more likely to injure other drivers on the road. Drivers heading in the opposite direction can also be sideswiped and injured, which occurred in 118 accidents in 2019.
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What to do after a drunk driving accident
A drunk driving accident can leave you and your loved ones overwhelmed about what to do next. No one plans on being the victim of a drunk driving accident. However, the following steps may be helpful on what to do in the days and weeks after a drunk driving accident.
1. Call the Police
Immediately after a drunk driving accident, you should call the police to document the accident and receive medical attention. A police officer will also be needed to conduct a sobriety test to determine whether any of the drivers involved in the accident are intoxicated.
2. Assess Your Injuries
If you do not receive medical treatment at the scene of the accident, visit your doctor as soon as possible to determine whether you need medical treatment. Be sure to continue to monitor your health for any additional signs or symptoms that occur afterwards because you may experience the effects of a car accident several days after it happens.
3. Document Your Damage
As soon as possible, be sure to take photos of any damage you sustained after being hurt by a drunk driver. This could include any damage to your car and photos of the injuries you sustained. Additionally, you will need to obtain the police report. If you were not given a copy at the scene of the accident, call the police department to ask for a copy of the accident report or how to access this report once it becomes available.
4. Notify Your Insurance Company
After you’ve been in a car accident, your insurance company needs to be notified. However, if you’ve been injured, it is best to call a lawyer first. The drunk driver’s insurance company may offer you a settlement for an amount that is an inaccurate estimate of what your damages will be. However, you should be cautious of any settlement offer because this may not be the actual value of your case. It may also be insufficient to cover your expenses, especially with serious and ongoing injuries. Call a Tucson drunk driving lawyer to fight for you and ensure you receive a fair settlement.
5. Document Your Expenses
A drunk driving accident can leave victims with sudden, unexpected costs. Hospital bills, missed work, and car repairs can quickly add up. It’s important that you keep track of all receipts and paperwork related to your accident. These could include:
- Doctor and hospital bills
- Physical therapy invoices
- Chiropractor expenses
- Time taken off from work due to any injuries
- Car repair or replacement receipts
- Rental car receipts
6. Call a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
Our drunk driving accident attorneys are here to help walk you through every step of the process. If retained, they will ensure you receive proper medical treatment, investigate the accident, interview witnesses, collect crash reports, negotiate with the insurance company, file a lawsuit, and go to trial if necessary.
At Zinda Law Group, we can help you determine the damages you are entitled to and may help you pursue them. The amount of compensation you are eligible for will depend on the extent of your injuries, the amount of your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and damage to your vehicle, among other things.
FAQS
Are Drunk Drivers Always at Fault?
Drunk drivers are not automatically assumed to be at fault for the accident just because they were under the influence. However, because all drivers are required to drive with a reasonable standard of care, drinking and driving will increase the likelihood that a drunk driver is found to be at fault for the accident.
Even if you believe you may be partially at fault for causing the accident, you may still be entitled to recover money. Arizona follows a comparative fault law, meaning that damages are reduced on each party’s liability in the accident. For example, if a drunk driver was found to be 90% at fault and you were found to be 10% at fault, you would still be able to recover money, but it would be reduced by 10%.
Can Other Parties Be Held Responsible for Drunk Drivers?
In Arizona, under the dram shop law, a business may be liable for a drunk driving accident if an “obviously intoxicated” individual is over served or under the legal drinking age. For example, if a restaurant serves an individual who can barely stand and has slurred speech, and that individual gets behind a wheel and causes an accident, the restaurant may be responsible for any injuries or fatalities that the drunk driver causes. Determining fault and recovery can be complicated, but an attorney can help navigate the process for you.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
If you were hit by a drunk driver and want to file a lawsuit against the other party, you need to be aware of the time limits, or statutes of limitations, that are in place. In Arizona, you have two years from the date of the drunk driving accident to file a claim for your injuries.
Even though this may seem like plenty of time, it is important to file your claim as soon as possible because your memories may not be as fresh months or years later, witnesses can be hard to track down, and important evidence may not remain well-preserved. It is best to contact an attorney as soon as possible to make sure you receive the money you deserve.
Contact a Lawyer Who Handles Drunk Driving Accident Cases
At Zinda Law Group, our drunk driving accident attorneys have helped many victims get the compensation they deserved after suffering at the hands of a drunk driver. Let us help you seek the financial compensation you deserve, while you focus on recovering from your accident.
We believe an accident victim should never have to worry about being able to afford legal representation. That is why we offer 100% free consultations, and why you pay nothing unless we win your case. That’s our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a drunk driving accident in Tucson or in the surrounding area, call Zinda Law Group at (800)-863-5312 to receive your free consultation with one of our skilled drunk driving accident attorneys.
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