Drunk driving played a role in thirty percent of the car accident fatalities in Nevada, according to a recent study by nonpartisan Responsibility.org. Las Vegas is not immune from this trend. In fact, Las Vegas ranked highest among U.S. cities for drunk driving, according to data gathered by the FBI Crime Reporting Program and U.S. Census. Despite a longstanding Nevada law making 0.08% the blood alcohol level for drunk driving in Nevada, lawless drunk driving persists with devastating results. Given this reality, there are important things to know if you or a loved one is a victim of drunk driving locally in Las Vegas or anywhere in Nevada.
What to Do If You’re in an Accident With a Drunk Driver
If you were injured by a drunk driver, you can bring a lawsuit for damages. If your loved one died, you can sue as the representative of their estate. Even if the drunk driver died in the accident, the suit can be brought against their estate. A Las Vegas car accident lawyer at Valiente Mott can guide you through every step of the process and make sure your rights to financial recovery are protected.
Often after a catastrophic collision, the drunk driver is arrested and prosecuted. You can sue the driver while he or she is being prosecuted; it’s not necessary to wait for the criminal case to resolve. Also, a criminal matter differs from a civil case. The State Prosecutor’s goal is to make the driver pay his debt to society. The primary goal of a Nevada DUI Accident Lawyer at Valiente Mott is to make the driver pay his debt to you.
Your time to sue for wrongful death and for personal injury is limited to two years. That may seem long, but in dealing with injury, pain, and loss – and perhaps distracted by the driver’s criminal case – time can slip away. Consult a DUI Accident Attorney at Valiente Mott while there’s still time.
What Compensation Can You Recover From the Drunk Driver?
Recovering money damages is important because typical injuries in drunk driving accidents are serious and often long-lasting, causing the victim to incur medical bills and need rehabilitation. They can include, for example:
- Burns
- Spinal injuries
- Nerve damage
- Limb injuries
- Soft tissue damage
Nevada, unlike many other states, generally does not extend liability for drunk driving to the businesses or hosts that provided alcohol to the driver. However, in some limited situations, it may be possible to make a claim for vicarious (or extended) liability against the driver’s employer if the drunk driver was driving in the course of their employment during the accident. Assessing such a possibility requires the skill and knowledge of an experienced DUI accident victim attorney.
Several kinds of money damages are possible. They include economic damages such as lost wages and hospital bills, non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, and loss of companionship. Punitive damages may be possible, which punish the drunk driver and deter others from such behavior. A qualified Nevada car accident attorney can determine which types of compensation you are eligible to pursue.
If you’re hit by a drunk driver, you can trust your case to a DUI Accident Attorney at Valiente Mott. Call our trusted car accident law firm for a free consultation.