Can I File a Lawsuit Against a Drunk Driver in North Carolina If I Am Injured?
If you are injured in an accident due to the negligence of another driver, the results can be devastating. You could face lengthy hospital visits, ongoing treatment, mental anguish, as well as the expenses that pile up due to lost days at work, medical bills, and possibly the need to hire outside help to assist your daily life as you recover. You may feel anger and disdain due to the errors of the other driver, and even more so if that driver is found to have been driving drunk at the time of the incident.
Drunk driving accounts for a huge percentage of vehicle accidents that occur every year in North Carolina. One might assume that if injured in a car accident due to the fault of another person, the compensation received will come directly from the insurance company, and while that is true, it is not the only source of financial compensation that can be collected.
In North Carolina, if you are injured in a car accident due to another driver who was drunk or driving while intoxicated at the very least, you absolutely have the right to file a civil lawsuit against the drunk driver. Drunk driving is a crime and getting behind the wheel after having too much to drink (or after having taken drugs) is a much more serious incident than simply making a wrong turn or accidentally running a red light. Driving after excessive drinking results in serious impairment and endangers everyone on the road. In this case, your injuries were preventable, except for the fact that the person who injured you chose to drive after becoming intoxicated.
Even if the person who is at fault for the accident has had criminal charges filed against them by the state, you still have the right to file a civil lawsuit against them as well. If you choose to file a lawsuit due to injuries sustained by a drunk driver, choose a law firm that has experience in handling such cases. They will work with you, the insurance company, and the police department to collect evidence to prove fault by this drunk driver and seek sufficient financial compensation to cover any expenses accrued, as well as the pain and suffering you have endured due to the injuries suffered in this accident. The investigation may be a detailed one and take into account the driver’s past history, the result of any blood alcohol content testing performed by the police, information pertaining to where the driver came from before the accident (for example, if they were witnessed to have been at a bar or similar location), etc. The law firm will handle all of the details for you while you focus on recovering from your injury.
Injuries suffered in a drunk driving accident can be severe and have lifelong complications. You should not bear the financial burden of such an event whatsoever. Consider filing a drunk driving lawsuit to secure the compensation and restitution you deserve.
