Despite widespread awareness campaigns and strict DUI laws, impaired driving continues to cause preventable crashes throughout Alabama. Alcohol affects judgment, coordination, reaction time, and decision-making abilities, making it difficult for drivers to safely operate a vehicle.
Many drunk driving car accidents in Birmingham occur when an impaired motorist fails to react to changing traffic conditions or makes dangerous driving decisions. These drivers may run red lights, travel the wrong way on a roadway, drift into adjacent lanes, rear-end other vehicles, or cause head-on and T-bone collisions. Because impaired drivers often have little ability to avoid a crash once danger arises, the resulting injuries can be severe or even fatal.
Victims of these collisions frequently face extensive medical treatment, lengthy recoveries, permanent disabilities, and significant emotional trauma. Families may also suffer devastating losses when a loved one is seriously injured or killed by an intoxicated driver. Let our team of car accident attorneys help you understand your options for moving forward after a DUI crash.
Recovering Compensation After Drunk Driving Car Accidents in Birmingham
Victims injured in drunk driving car crashes in Birmingham may have several avenues for pursuing compensation. In many cases, an injured person can file a claim against the at-fault driver's insurance policy. However, DUI offenders are often uninsured or carry only the minimum amount of liability coverage required by law, which may be insufficient to cover substantial medical expenses and other losses.
When insurance coverage is limited, additional options may be available. Depending on the circumstances, injured parties may be able to seek benefits through their own uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist, or medical payments coverage. Compensation may be available for medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, property damage, and other accident-related losses.
An attorney can identify all available sources of recovery and work to ensure that insurance companies do not undervalue a claim following a serious collision.
Dram Shop Liability and Drunk Driving Car Accidents in Birmingham
In some drunk driving car wrecks in Birmingham, responsibility may extend beyond the impaired driver. Alabama's Dram Shop Act allows injured individuals and certain family members to pursue claims against businesses or individuals who provide alcohol to a person they knew or should have known was intoxicated.
Bars, restaurants, and other establishments have a duty to serve alcohol responsibly. When a business continues serving someone who is clearly intoxicated and that individual later causes a crash, the establishment may be held financially accountable for the resulting injuries and damages. Identifying all potentially liable parties can play an important role in maximizing the compensation available to victims and their families.
Speak With a Lawyer After a Drunk Driving Car Accident in Birmingham
The aftermath of drunk driving car accidents in Birmingham can be overwhelming, especially when you are trying to recover from serious injuries while dealing with insurance companies and mounting expenses. Alabama law generally limits the amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit, making it important to act quickly.
The team at Singleton Schreiber Injury Attorneys can investigate the collision, preserve critical evidence, identify all liable parties, and pursue the compensation you deserve. The sooner you seek legal guidance, the sooner you can focus on your recovery while your legal team works to protect your interests.
