A car accident can endanger you and your passengers in any situation, but a crash involving a drunk driver is especially dangerous. An impaired driver has a reduced ability to control their vehicle, which increases the chance of causing serious injury to others on the road.
Drunk driving car accidents in St. Louis can leave you injured and your car totaled, but you can hold a drunk driver accountable through a legal claim. To get compensation for your injuries, you can rely on the aid of a respected car collision attorney from McCready Law.
In simple terms, every driver has a responsibility to drive safely to avoid harming other people around them. Drinking before or while driving makes it nearly impossible to drive safely, raising the risk of an accident.
Alcohol impairs reaction time, judgment, and cognitive function, and drunk drivers often overestimate their driving abilities. Even worse, a heavily intoxicated driver can lose consciousness behind the wheel and lose control of the car, often by pressing the gas pedal unintentionally, swerving off course, or something else.
A drunk driver’s lack of control can lead to more severe injuries than in other types of accidents. Unlike a sober driver who may try to brake or swerve to avoid a crash, an impaired driver may continue accelerating until impact, causing a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord damage.
With the potential for severe injuries and long-term effects from a collision involving a drunk driver, an injured person in St. Louis should seek the help of a competent lawyer. An attorney can assist an individual in assessing the extent of their injuries and help them understand how the impaired driver caused the crash.
The first step after a car crash is to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Prompt treatment creates medical records, which can support a future claim for compensation.
It is not the injuries themselves that qualify for compensation, but rather their financial and lifestyle impact, which the law measures in categories known as legal damages. These may include medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering. To recover compensation, a person must demonstrate both the extent of their damages and who is responsible for them.
In cases involving drunk drivers, liability often stems from negligence. By choosing to drive under the influence, a drunk driver breaches their legal duty to operate their vehicle safely. Proving negligence requires solid evidence. A successful claim depends on gathering and submitting the right documentation to hold the drunk driver accountable.
An attorney can manage the tasks of showing damages and proving the liability of a St. Louis drunk driver who caused a car crash. A lawyer can interview witnesses, obtain lab reports of blood alcohol content, and package it all into a coherent claim on an injured person’s behalf.
Recovery after drunk driving car accidents in St. Louis starts with physical healing, but financial recovery is just as important. While you focus on healing, let an experienced injury attorney handle the legal process and push your claim forward. At McCready Law, our team is ready to help. We can review your case and discuss your options, so contact us today to schedule a consultation.
