4 Reasons To Hire A Rhode Island Drunk Driving Accident Attorney
Being involved in a car crash is always a stressful and nerve-racking experience, but even more so when the driver who caused the accident is intoxicated.
If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident, you could benefit from hiring an experienced attorney to represent your interests and rights. Contact a Rhode Island drunk driving accident attorney to discuss your particular situation.
Why You Need an Attorney After a Drunk Driving Accident
There are at least four reasons you need a skilled attorney after being involved in a car crash caused by a drunk motorist:
- Your lawyer will help you gather evidence
In order to recover damages after a DUI accident in Rhode Island, you will need your attorney to collect all available evidence to prove that the other driver was at fault for causing the crash.
The fact that the other driver was intoxicated may not be enough to seek compensation in your civil claim against the drunk motorist. Instead, you need to demonstrate clear and convincing evidence proving that the driver was negligent.
Depending on the circumstances of your car accident, your attorney may gather the following types of damages:
- Photos and videos
- Surveillance footage
- Witness statements
- Police report
- Dashcam footage (from your vehicle or eyewitnesses’ vehicles)
- Testimony from accident reconstruction experts
- The other driver’s DUI arrest
- The other driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test results
The more evidence you can collect to show the drunk driver’s negligence, the strong your claim will be and the more likely you are to get compensated for your injuries and losses.
- Your lawyer will identify all liable parties
Contrary to popular belief, the drunk motorist who caused your accident may not be the only party that can be held liable for the crash. Under Rhode Island’s dram shop law, you could also bring a claim against any establishment or vendor that negligently/recklessly served, sold, or provided alcohol to the visibly intoxicated driver.
Whether or not you can sue a bar, nightclub, or another establishment that served alcohol to the driver depends on the circumstances of your case, which is why you should consult with an attorney.
- Your lawyer will help you seek maximum compensation
If you were injured in a drunk driving accident in Rhode Island, you need to be aware of all the recoverable damages in your case. The compensation you can seek depends on the severity of your injury and other circumstances of your crash.
Typically, victims of drunk driving accidents in Rhode Island can recover the following types of damages
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage (the cost of repairing/replacing a damaged vehicle)
- Punitive damages, which are available in Rhode Island personal injury cases involving reckless conduct
- Your lawyer will help you win a lawsuit
In many DUI accident cases, the insurance settlement is not enough to compensate the drunk driving accident victim for their losses and damages.
In that case, your lawyer will help you prepare a lawsuit against the drunk driver and other liable parties and make sure that you win the compensation you deserve.
Filing a lawsuit may also be the only option to recover damages when an insurance settlement cannot be reached.
Contact a Rhode Island Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Today
At Robert E. Craven & Associates, our Rhode Island drunk driving accident attorneys understand the devastating impact these crashes have on victims and their families.
That is why we are committed to providing top-notch legal representation to hold the drunk motorist accountable for the collision and help you obtain the compensation you are entitled to. Contact our lawyers by calling 401-453-2700 today.
