Being injured in a car accident is frustrating enough, but knowing that the crash was completely preventable and that a drunk driver caused it can be even worse. If you were injured in a drunk driving crash, a Freehold DUI accident lawyer from Noonan & McMahon, LLC can help.
Since 2007, we have fought to protect our clients’ rights after someone else’s negligence injured them. Our combined decades of legal experience have helped our team recover millions of dollars on behalf of injury victims throughout Freehold, NJ.
Learn about your right to compensation when you call our law firm for a free consultation at (732) 303-7857.
How Can Noonan & McMahon, LLC Help After a Drunk Driving Crash in Freehold?
If you were hurt in a drunk driving crash, you are probably dealing with a lot right now between medical appointments, dealing with extensive pain and suffering, and trying to reclaim your life after a devastating accident. An experienced Freehold car accident attorney can handle your legal claim while you focus on other matters.
Some of the ways our legal team can help with your claim include:
- Advising you of your legal rights and options
- Gathering evidence to prove the driver was drunk
- Working with law enforcement to aid in any criminal case
- Accurately estimating the value of your claim
- Handling communications with the insurance company and other parties
- Managing claim paperwork and case deadlines
- Negotiating for maximum compensation
- Filing a lawsuit if it’s in your best interest
If you were injured in a car crash caused by a drunk driver in Freehold, New Jersey, contact us for a free case review to learn about your legal options.
Drunk Driving Accident Statistics
In 2022, 13,524 people died in drunk driving crashes in the United States. That is one death every 39 minutes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
In New Jersey, 646 fatal car crashes occurred in 2022. A total of 206 of these listed alcohol as a contributing factor, according to the New Jersey State Police. Overall, 229 people were killed in these crashes.
Effects of Alcohol on Driving
The negative effects of alcohol on driving are well documented. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drinking alcohol can have the following impact on driving:
- Difficulty steering
- Reduced coordination
- Reduced ability to track moving objects
- Difficulty doing two or more tasks simultaneously
- Loss of judgment
- Trouble controlling speed
- Difficulty processing information and reasoning
- Lowered reaction time
- Difficulty maintaining lane
- Difficulty braking when needed
- Difficulty focusing
- Trouble controlling the vehicle
Despite these serious safety concerns, people decide every day to drive after they have chosen to drink.
Legal Consequences of Driving Drunk in New Jersey
A first conviction of DUI in New Jersey can result in the following penalties:
- Incarceration up to 30 days
- A fine of $250 to $400
- Driver’s license forfeiture until installing an ignition interlock device
- At least six hours a day for two days in an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center
- A $100 surcharge to the Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund
- A $100 Motor Vehicle Commission restoration fee
- A $100 Intoxicated Driving Program fee
- A $75 Safe and Secure Community Program fee
- A Violent Crimes Compensation Fund fee of $50
Harsher penalties apply for subsequent offenses, higher blood alcohol content (BAC) levels, or aggravating factors like driving with a minor. If the motorist had a BAC of 0.10 percent or higher, they may also be responsible for paying an auto insurance surcharge of $1,000 a year for three years.
Damages You Can Recover in a Freehold Drunk Driving Car Accident Claim
If a drunk driver injures you, you may be entitled to compensation for the economic and non-economic damages you have suffered, which may include:
- Medical expenses for emergency medical treatment
- Ongoing medical expenses, including rehabilitation and therapy
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium and companionship
- Loss of enjoyment of life
While punitive damages are not typically awarded in car accident cases, you may be able to pursue them in drunk driving crashes since these cases involve reckless behavior and a willful choice to put others’ safety at risk.
Civil vs. Criminal Cases
If a drunk driver injures you, the prosecutor may file criminal charges against them. This case could be occurring at the same time as your civil claim. While these cases can impact each other, they are different.
The purpose of a criminal case is to punish the drunk driver for violating the law. The prosecutor must prove their guilt by proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
In your personal injury case, the goal is to secure compensation to help you rebuild your life after the crash. If the case goes to trial, the burden of proof is by the preponderance of the evidence, which is that the facts are more likely than not as you allege.
The burden of proof is lower in a civil case than in a criminal case. As a result, you can still win your civil case even if the at-fault driver is acquitted in criminal court.
Evidence That Can Help Prove Fault in a Drunk Driving Crash
Some of the evidence that may be able to help prove the drunk driver was at fault for the crash may include:
- Accident reports
- Findings of guilt in a criminal trial
- Witness statements
- Receipts for alcohol purchases
- Event data recorder information
- Recordings at the accident scene
- Toxicology reports
- Medical records
Your lawyer can help identify and gather evidence to support your case.
We Handle All Auto Accident Claims in Freehold, NJ
- Distracted driving
- Head-on collisions
- Highway collisions
- Hit-and-run collisions
- Intersection crashes
- Multi-vehicle collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Single vehicle collisions
- Lane change collisions
- Red and yellow light accidents
- Self-driving accidents
- U-Turn Accidents
Call Our Experienced Freehold DUI Accident Attorneys for a Free Consultation
If you were injured in a drunk driving crash, a Freehold DUI accident lawyer from Noonan & McMahon, LLC can help. Contact us today for your free case review.