Sacramento DUI Accident Victim Attorneys
Are you the Victim of a DUI accident?
If you have been victimized in a DUI accident, the Sacramento DUI accident victim attorneys at Eason & Tambornini can help you.
Being the victim of a DUI accident is one of the most traumatic types of vehicle accidents that a person can experience. According to responsibility.org, the total number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2019 in California was 949, or 26% of all fatalities on the road in California.
Unfortunately, Eason & Tambornini’s DUI accident victim attorneys stay very busy in Sacramento. According to the University of California’s Transportation Mapping System, in 2016, our state’s capital had the highest rate of alcohol-related crashes in California. In 2021, the CHP reported 1,002 alcohol-related crashes. In 2021 and 2022 combined, alcohol-related crashes made up approximately 12% of all accidents in Sacramento County.
These statistics, while they have decreased dramatically since stricter laws were introduced nationwide in the mid-1980s, are far too high, and far too many people are left to deal with the devasting aftermath of a drunk driving accident. This is a tragic reality that our DUI accident victim lawyers frequently see.
California Drunk-Driving Laws
A skilled DUI accident victim attorney who understands the many laws governing impaired driving in California is essential to building a winning case. The legal limit in California depends upon the driver’s age and the classification of the vehicle they are operating. California State Law says that a person is impaired if they are:
- Under 21 years old with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.01% or above
- Over 21 years old with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher
- Operating a commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04% or higher.
A driver with a breath or blood test over these legal limits is presumed impaired if they are at or above the percentage applicable to them. Additionally, vehicle operators can be found to be under the influence of other controlled substances depending on blood test results.
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Eason & Tambornini DUI, accident victim attorneys, can help.
For more than twenty-five years in the Sacramento region, our personal injury attorneys in Sacramento have been helping victims reclaim their lives: recover lost wages, secure compensation for medical bills, property damage, future earnings, and pain and suffering.
Our Sacramento DUI accident victim attorneys are among the best in Northern California and have an extremely high rate of success in defending victims of drunk driving accidents. We excel at obtaining the legal settlement you and your loved ones need to regain their lives. Additionally, suppose our Sacramento DUI accident victim attorneys agree to represent you. In that case, you will know that we will work tirelessly and aggressively on your behalf to pursue and secure everything to which you are legally entitled.
Experienced, Skilled, and Respected DUI Accident Victim Attorneys in Sacramento
We are proud members of the Sacramento County Bar Association, Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association (CCTLA), and the State Bar of California. Our firm brings 100 years of experience to our practice, backed up by a skilled team of investigators. When our DUI accident victim attorneys set out to win a settlement, we will work tirelessly for you.
Compensatory Damages
Injured victims of DUI accidents often suffer substantial physical and financial losses, devastating their lives. Like other vehicle accidents, our DUI accident victim attorneys represent people who deserve and have a right to compensation (“compensatory damages”) to replace tangible assets and money they have lost as a result of the accident and to account for their pain and suffering. Below is a list of some common compensatory damages that your DUI accident victim attorney can fight for on your behalf:
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses
- Future treatment costs
- Future lost earning power
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
- Mental or emotional injuries
- Wrongful death
Additionally, victims or loved ones of victims of a DUI accident may also be entitled to receive punitive damages.
FAQ: What are punitive damages?
Punitive damages, which by definition are meant to punish, may be awarded in addition to compensatory damages in some DUI accidents and other personal injury cases; they are not automatic. A skilled DUI attorney must prove that the impaired driver willfully ignored the safety of others, such as proving they knew they would be operating a vehicle later — after having consumed alcohol.
Punitive damages are intended to discourage or deter people from acting in the same dangerous manner again. Furthermore, punitive damages are not insurable. This means the perpetrator’s insurance company cannot pay them; they must come out of the convicted drunk driver’s pocket. If the driver does not have the money to fulfill the punitive damages award, their wages may be garnished, or a real estate lien may be placed against their property.
Common Types of DUI Accidents Our DUI Accident Victim Lawyers See
DUI accidents can be devastating, and our DUI accident victim attorneys have seen many in the more than two decades we have been in practice. The severity of these collisions has the potential to devastate innocent peoples’ lives, often due to excessive speeds and dangerous maneuvers that are part of drunk driving accidents. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol may result in some of the following accidents:
- Rear-end collisions
- T-bone collisions at intersections
- High-speed collisions with other vehicles
- Head-on collisions caused by an impaired driver heading the wrong way
- Collisions with motorcyclists or bicyclists
- Collisions with pedestrians (including hit-and-runs)
FAQ: What are the most common impairments of an intoxicated driver?
What many people think of when they imagine an impaired driver is someone who is stumbling or slurring. But the dangers of drinking and driving go beyond those obvious physical signs. Not everyone responds the same way to alcohol, and not everyone is impaired in the same way when they drive a vehicle. Below are some of the various effects that drugs and alcohol can have on a driver operating a motor vehicle under the influence.
- Irrational state of mind or mood
- Distorted depth perception, especially at night
- Blurry or double vision
- Reduced reaction time
- Impaired judgment about braking or judging speed
- Decreased ability to stay focused or concentrate on driving
- Decreased peripheral awareness
- Drowsiness or sleepiness
FAQ: What types of injuries do your DUI accident victim attorneys encounter?
As stated above, drunk driving accidents are highly likely to cause severe personal injury to all the involved parties for a variety of reasons. Many of our DUI accident victim attorneys represent family members, such as parents or children, of loved ones who they lost to a drunk driving accident.
Below is a partial list of common injuries suffered by victims of DUI accidents.
- Fractures or broken bones
- Facial and skull fractures
- Severe lacerations
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Soft tissue injuries (usually to the torso, neck and back)
- Internal organ damage
- Internal hemorrhaging
- Limb amputation
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Herniated discs
- PTSD
As you can see, these are serious and sometimes catastrophic injuries, which often require an extended course of treatment, including multiple surgeries and long-term rehabilitation.
FAQ: How are drunk drivers legally held accountable?
The decision to drink and drive is an expensive one to make. In the hundreds of cases our DUI accident victim lawyers have handled over the years, it is not uncommon for a person convicted of DUI to be fined, on average, $10,000-$15,000. This high cost is justified by the thousands of killed or injured people who have suffered from drunk drivers’ reckless decisions over the years.
The High Cost of Drinking and Driving
As our DUI accident victim attorneys are constantly reminded of, DUI accidents are especially tragic because these types of accidents are entirely preventable. DUI accidents are caused by people who intentionally get behind the wheel after they have been drinking; these are not people who accidentally lose control of a vehicle due to weather or faulty brakes.
How DUI Accident Victim Attorneys Determine Liability
What can you do if you are a victim of an accident involving a drunk driver? Your best first step is to call a qualified, experienced DUI accident victim attorney skilled at navigating the court system. Many drivers ignore the road rules and have suspended or invalid licenses. Individuals who drink and drive often ignore the law altogether. Situations like this are a perfect example of why having a qualified Sacramento DUI accident victim attorney can help if you are a victim of a DUI accident.
Our Sacramento DUI accident victim attorneys know the dangers and consequences of DUI firsthand because we represent the victims. Eason & Tambornini DUI attorneys offer a free consultation for all personal injury cases, including for victims of DUI accidents. And we never charge a fee unless you win your case.
Call us today to schedule your appointment so that you can start to put this situation behind you. In Sacramento, call us at 916-438-1819.