When we get behind the wheel of a car, we all have a responsibility to drive safely. Drivers who make erratic decisions, ignore traffic safety laws, or drive while drunk can cause devastating harm.
At Robinette Legal Group, PLLC, we’re proud to stand with victims of drunk driving accidents and help them along their road to recovery. As former defense attorneys for the insurance industry, we know the strategies they use to deny victims the money they need to become whole again. With this knowledge, we craft an iron-clad strategy when seeking maximum compensation for your damages and losses.
To learn more about how we can help victims of West Virginia drunk driving accidents, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
How Many Drunk Driving Accidents Happen in West Virginia?
In West Virginia, adults can be charged with driving under the influence (DUI) if they have a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent. This number drops to .04 percent for commercial drivers and .02 percent for underage drivers.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, drunk driving is a major safety concern in West Virginia. Over a nine-year period, 827 people died in West Virginia drunk-driving crashes. A survey shows that nearly 1 percent of all West Virginia residents drove after drinking “too much.”
In a recent year, 56 people in West Virginia died from drunk driving accidents (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).
Common Injuries In West Virginia Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk driving accidents can have devastating and potentially permanent effects on victims. Some of the most common injuries involved in drunk driving accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Loss of limb
- Paraplegia
- Bone fractures
- Broken or bruised ribs
- Burn injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Whiplash
- Concussions
- PTSD
If you are suffering from any of these injuries, a West Virginia personal injury attorney at our firm can explain the options available to you.
Compensation in West Virginia Drunk Driving Accident Claims
West Virginia is a fault state, which means the person responsible for the accident is responsible for compensating the damages of the injured parties. However, if the victim is found to be partially responsible for the crash, the state’s comparative negligence laws say that the award will be reduced by the victim’s percentage of fault.
For example, if a drunk driver hit you but you were speeding or changing lanes improperly, you may be found to be 20 percent at fault for the crash. In that case, a $100,000 settlement would be reduced by $20,000 for a total of $80,000.
Compensation in a drunk driving car accident claim can help cover your accident-related expenses, such as:
- Past and future medical costs, like surgery, medication, and physical therapy
- Wages you lost if you could not work
- Loss of future earning capacity if you can no longer return to your former line of work
In addition to these economic damages, you could receive non-economic damages to compensate for the losses that are harder to put a price tag on. These include:
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
Were You Injured by a Drunk Driver in West Virginia?
When a drunk driver causes a serious accident, they should be held accountable to the passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians who suffered as a result of their negligence.
When we began our personal injury practice, we made a critical decision: we would never represent drunk drivers facing criminal charges. We believe it would be inconsistent with our dedication to helping victims of negligence put their lives back together after serious trauma.
Instead of defending drunk drivers, we aim to hold them accountable to the highest standards of the law. They chose to drive impaired, and harm resulted from those choices. We file claims on behalf of injured clients and their loved ones against drunk drivers and their insurance companies. We also assist individuals and families harmed by the actions of intoxicated drivers of large commercial vehicles.
We do everything we can to get our clients the compensation they need to cover their medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and more. We want you to focus on your recovery while we fight to right the wrongs caused by completely avoidable and irresponsible choices.
Keep in mind that West Virginia has a two-year statute of limitations on drunk driving accident claims. That means that a drunk driving accident victim must file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of the date of the injury.
Contact Our West Virginia Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers for Help
At Robinette Legal Group, PLLC, we have built strong relationships with accident reconstruction specialists, medical specialists, and physical and occupational therapists to help strengthen our cases. With the help of these experts, we can prove that you deserve every dollar we’re fighting for.
If you were hurt in a DUI accident or lost a family member in a crash caused by a drunk driver, you have the right to set things right, and West Virginia drunk driving accident attorneys can help. Our firm has earned a reputation in Morgantown and throughout West Virginia as being aggressive, tough, and successful in delivering results for our clients. This includes DUI accidents, uninsured and underinsured motorist accidents.
To learn more about how we can help, contact our office today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced West Virginia car accident lawyer. We can thoroughly review your case and explain all of your available options.
Call us today to find out how we can help you.
Our Awards and Certifications
