Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Fayetteville

Driving around North Carolina while being under the influence can lead to serious injuries and even fatal accidents. But that doesn’t stop it from happening. If you’ve been the victim of a drunk driving accident, you may be dealing with physical injury, emotional trauma, mounting medical bills, and the added stress that comes with seeking compensation.

A Fayetteville car accident lawyer can reduce that burden for you. At Whitley Law Firm, we’ve been helping clients since 1974, offering the legal guidance and advice needed to manage elaborate legal processes related to a range of compensation claims.

Our drunk driving accident lawyers in Fayetteville serve seriously injured individuals, making sure your rights are protected and that you fully understand what options are available to you.

How a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Fayetteville Can Support Your Claim

Because there are so many factors in a drunk driving case, it’s always a good idea to get some form of legal representation on your side. A Fayetteville personal injury lawyer from Whitley Law Firm can support your claim in the following ways:

Investigating the Accident

We will investigate the details of the crash. This includes assessing all relevant evidence, such as police reports, witness statements, photographs, surveillance footage, and more, to help determine liability.

Handling All Paperwork

Our knowledge of the North Carolina judicial system means we already know which deadlines you need to meet and which documents you need to complete when filing your claim. We can even handle all of these procedures for you, so that nothing is missed.

Estimating Damages

By looking at medical bills, lost wages, ongoing care, therapy expenses, and any other expenses or losses you’ve experienced due to a drunk driving accident, our legal team can help to estimate how much you’re owed. We’ll look at economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages, if applicable.

Representing You

Our attorneys will take care of all communications with the insurance companies to make sure you get a fair settlement. If no agreement is made and the case is taken to court, we’ll represent you before a judge and jury.

How to Determine Liability in a Drunk Driving Accident

It might seem obvious who is to blame in a DUI accident, but liability isn’t always limited to the impaired driver. Sometimes, our Fayetteville drunk driving accident lawyers can help you hold multiple parties responsible. For example, liability may include a second negligent driver who contributed to or worsened the collision.

North Carolina operates under contributory negligence, which means if you were even 1% responsible for your injuries or the accident, you may forfeit your right to compensation.

According to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-138.1, it is illegal for non-commercial drivers to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol (BAC) level of 0.08 or above. Breaching this law can provide strong evidence of negligence and may help with determining liability. However, because every case is unique, you will need a drunk driving accident lawyer to help evaluate the facts.

Fayetteville Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me (800) 785-5000

Compensation for DUI Accidents

If you’ve been hurt in a drunk driving accident, you may be able to claim for economic and non-economic damages. However, this will depend on the specifics of your case. Here’s an overview of what might be covered:

Economic Damages

These include any financial losses you’ve suffered as a direct result of the crash. They can often include the following:

• Medical expenses
• Hospital bills
• Costs for ongoing treatment
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Therapy costs
• Vehicle or property damage

Non-Economic Damages

These damages are more about how you’ve been emotionally impacted by the accident. They may not have hit you financially, but the distress caused has affected you enough to potentially earn you some compensation. They may include the following:

• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Pain and suffering

How Long Do You Have to File Your Claim in Fayetteville?

The statute of limitations for drunk driving cases in North Carolina is usually three years from the date of the injury. If you miss this deadline, you may not be able to submit a claim and recover compensation.

The longer you leave it, the harder the case might be. Evidence can sometimes disappear or be harder to obtain, and each step in the legal process can take longer than you might think.

Reporting the collision and pursuing compensation should be done straight away. To make things easier, hire a drunk driving accident lawyer in Fayetteville. They know every submission deadline and can help to preserve evidence early on.

Contact Whitley Law Firm for Legal Guidance

Being involved in a car crash is traumatic enough as it is, but knowing it happened because of someone else’s negligence is even worse. And when alcohol is a contributing factor, the situation can feel completely overwhelming.

If you’ve suffered an injury in a drunk driving accident, we can help you file for compensation. At Whitley Law Firm, we’re dedicated to serving our community and working hard to protect your rights. Our car accident attorneys will provide the guidance you need and handle your case with care.

For more information on this topic, learn about what to do after a car accident. Or contact us today to book a free consultation. If we miss you, we promise to return your call within 24 hours.