Drunk driving remains one of the most preventable yet devastating causes of traffic accidents in the United States. If an intoxicated motorist has injured you or someone you love, you deserve justice and full financial recovery. Call Schwaba Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced drunk driving accident attorney who will fight unceasingly for your rights. We serve Wisconsin, Michigan, and North Carolina.
Hit by a Drunk Driver? Understanding the Devastating Consequences
When a driver operates a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, their judgment, reaction time, and motor control are significantly impaired. Once blood alcohol concentration exceeds the legal limit of 0.08 percent, and even at lower levels, drivers face a greatly increased risk of causing serious or fatal crashes.
Common injuries our drunk driving accident lawyers see in our clients include:
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord damage
- Partial and complete paralysis
- Multiple broken bonesInternal bleeding and organ damage
- Severe lacerations and disfigurement
Around 34 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes every day, which is one person every 42 minutes. When drunk driving accidents cause fatalities, families may pursue compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one.
What Are Your Legal Rights After a DUI Accident?
Beyond filing a standard insurance claim, you have the right to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the drunk driver who caused your injuries. While criminal charges may proceed separately through the district attorney’s office, your civil case allows you to recover damages for all harm you’ve suffered.
The criminal justice system punishes the offender, but your civil action helps you seek the financial compensation necessary to rebuild your life. Our DUI accident lawyer team protects your interests throughout both processes, ensuring the criminal case strengthens your civil claim rather than complicating it.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a Drunk Driving Car Accident Case?
Victims of drunk driving accidents deserve full compensation for every loss they’ve endured. Damages include economic and intangible losses, including:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Loss of consortium for spouses
Punitive damages are a possibility in drunk driving cases, setting them apart from ordinary negligence claims. Courts may award these additional damages specifically to punish the drunk driver’s reckless conduct and deter others from similar behavior. Our drunk driving accident attorneys aggressively pursue punitive damages to maximize your recovery and send a strong message that intoxicated driving will not be tolerated.
Why Insurance Companies Are Not on Your Side
Insurance adjusters work for corporations focused on profit margins, not your well-being. Even when a drunk driver clearly caused your accident, insurers will deploy various tactics to minimize what they pay you. You need a drunk driving accident law firm advocating for your interests from day one.
The Challenges of Insurance Claims in Drunk Driving Cases
Despite seemingly straightforward liability, insurance companies create obstacles that complicate your recovery. Common tactics insurers use include:
- Delaying investigations to pressure for quick settlements.
- Disputing the severity of your car accident injuries or claiming pre-existing conditions.
- Offering lowball settlements before you know your full damages.
- Requesting excessive documentation to frustrate your claim.
- Misrepresenting policy coverage and limits.
- Advising that you don’t need a drunk driving attorney.
We counter these strategies by building an ironclad case that leaves no room for insurance company games. Our car accident attorneys can document every aspect of your injuries and losses while meeting all deadlines and procedural requirements. By demonstrating our readiness to take your personal injury case to trial, we compel insurers to offer fair settlements rather than face a jury that will likely award substantial damages against a drunk driver.
Evidence Your DUI Accident Lawyer Can Secure
Building a winning case requires immediate action to preserve and collect critical evidence before it disappears. Time-sensitive evidence, such as surveillance footage, gets erased, witnesses forget details, and physical evidence at crash scenes disappears quickly. We gather:
- Police reports
- Breathalyzer/BAC test result
- Witness statements
- Field sobriety tests
- Accident scene photographs
- Surveillance or dashcam footage
- Toxicology report
- Bar or restaurant receipts
- Cell phone records
Each piece of evidence strengthens your claim by documenting the driver’s intoxication and proving how it directly caused the collision. At Schwaba Law Firm, we work with accident reconstruction experts and medical professionals who provide testimony that clearly establishes liability and the full extent of your damages.
How Our Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys Fight for You
From your first consultation through final settlement or verdict, we provide comprehensive legal representation designed to maximize your recovery. Our process includes:
- Case review and investigation – We meet with you to understand every detail of your accident and injuries, then launch an immediate investigation to gather all available evidence. Our team interviews witnesses, obtains official reports, and consults with experts who strengthen your case.
- Handling insurers and court filings – We manage all communication with insurance companies so they cannot use your words against you or pressure you into accepting inadequate offers. Our attorneys prepare and file all necessary legal documents while meeting every deadline to protect your rights.
- Fighting for maximum compensation, including punitive damages – We calculate the full value of your damages, including future medical needs and long-term impacts on your quality of life. Our aggressive negotiation and trial skills seek to hold drunk drivers and their insurers accountable for everything you deserve, including punitive damages when appropriate.
We understand the physical, emotional, and financial devastation you’re experiencing. Let us handle the legal complexities so that you can focus on healing and spending time with loved ones.
Why Choose Schwaba Law Firm as Your Drunk Driving Accident Law Firm?
Our attorneys have a proven track record of successfully representing drunk driving car accident victims, securing substantial settlements and verdicts that reflect the true value of our clients’ claims. We know how to build compelling cases that overcome insurance company resistance and persuade juries when trials become necessary. With over 15 years of experience in this specific area of law, we anticipate defense tactics and know how to counter them effectively.
At Schwaba Law Firm, we take a client-focused approach. You will have direct access to your attorney, not just paralegals or assistants. We provide compassionate guidance throughout your case, explaining each development in plain language and involving you in every significant decision. We respond promptly to your calls and emails because we recognize that uncertainty about your case adds to your stress during an already difficult time.
Protect Your Rights — Contact a Drunk Driver Accident Lawyer Today
Evidence disappears, witnesses become unavailable, and statutes of limitations impose strict deadlines for filing lawsuits. Waiting to seek legal representation jeopardizes your ability to recover full compensation. The drunk driver’s insurance company already has lawyers working to minimize your claim, so you need experienced advocates protecting your interests immediately.
Schwaba Law Firm offers free consultations to evaluate your case and explain your legal options, with no obligation or upfront costs. We handle drunk driving accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Our advocacy has helped countless victims rebuild their lives after devastating crashes caused by intoxicated drivers. Call us today or reach out online to discuss how we can help you pursue the justice and financial recovery you deserve.
