Virginia Drunk Driving Victim Lawyers in Warrenton, Culpeper & Front Royal

Despite increased law enforcement efforts, drunk drivers continue to be a tremendous risk on the road. If you've been the victim of a drunk driver, you'll likely find the insurance company is prepared to fight your case even harder. This is because drunk driving collisions by their nature are more serious. In short, the stakes are higher.

Hit by a Drunk Driver in Virginia

Drunk Driving Cases Differ From the Rest

In addition to the serious injuries or even death that too often arise from drunk driving, these cases also tend to involve higher emotional and financial tolls. Victims of drunk drivers typically incur financial and other losses to include medical expenses, lost earnings, physical injuries, and disability. When a drunk driver causes a wreck, it's usually serious. Additionally, the cases are hard fought - insurance companies invest more money, time, and resources in cases when defending drunk drivers. Insurers are more likely to take additional defense measures such as hiring teams of accident reconstructionists or toxicology experts in order to avoid liability. It takes expertise to "even the playing field" against drunk drivers and their insurance company lawyers.

Proving Intoxication is the Key

Proving the fault (by intoxication) of the drunk driver may be more challenging than would be expected. Often, we can make use of the evidence compiled by the police in prosecuting the wrongdoer. This may include the officer's field notes, photographs, and observations of the suspect. We typically work closely with police officers to develop this evidence. We can also rely on the findings of the scientific analysis performed on the suspect's breath or blood sample given after his arrest.

However, in many cases, this evidence doesn't exist. After all, drunk drivers aren't always caught by the police, or they may be arrested but escape conviction through legal technicalities.

In such cases, we may be called upon to devise our own solutions. In the absence of police evidence, we've worked with toxicology experts to prove that a particular driver was in fact drunk on a certain occasion. We've also turned to other forms of evidence such as eyewitness testimony, hospital admission records, and hospital toxicology screenings to prove cases of drunk driving.

The Punitive Damage Issue in Virginia

In specific cases, victims of drunk drivers may be able to recover additional money damages known as punitive damages. As the name suggests, punitive damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer and hopefully deter similar conduct in the future. They also provide extra compensation to victims, which is certainly fair. Punitive damages are a powerful victim's right in the fight against drunk drivers. This form of damages can also be a valuable weapon to "even the field" against their insurance companies and defense attorneys as well. We pursue punitive damages to the fullest extent possible under the law. We take drunk driving cases seriously and are proud of our results.

Some Troubling National Drunk Driving Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2010, over 10,000 people were killed in alcohol-related collisions. This is an average of one death almost every 51 minutes. These deaths amount to 32% of all traffic fatalities. Time after time, we've been called upon to represent those injured by drunk drivers. Though our offices are based in Fauquier, Culpeper, and Warren Counties, we handle cases throughout Virginia.

If you've been hurt by a drunk driver, contact us for a free consultation. We can be your advocate.

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Whether or not you choose to hire our firm, we'll give you simple, direct advice. It's the only way we know.

Client Review

Henry Stafford

They handled my personal injury (auto accident) claim very well, and made the whole process painless (the legal part, I mean - the percocet helped with the injury) for me. They definitely had my best interests in mind, and made sure I was compensated correctly for my losses. I couldn't have asked for better legal advice during this incident. They also went out of their way to keep me informed and explain the legal process in terms I could understand. I highly recommend them.

Written by: Henry Stafford

Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas