When Your Back Is Against The Wall

North Carolina Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

What to Do If You Were Injured or Your Loved One Was Killed in a DUI Accident

Not only is it illegal in the state of North Carolina to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, but a drunk driver who causes an accident can also be held accountable for damages in a civil action.

If you were seriously injured or your loved one was killed by a drunk driver, contact a North Carolina drunk driving accident lawyer at Lanier Law Group to discuss your right to compensation and how to pursue a claim.

Contact our firm online or call 919-342-1368 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

How Alcohol Impairs Your Ability to Drive

Alcohol impairs driving in several critical ways due to its effects on the central nervous system. Here’s how alcohol impacts various driving-related functions:

Cognitive Function: Alcohol reduces attention and concentration, making it difficult to focus on multiple tasks while driving. It slows down brain processing speed, leading to delayed responses to traffic changes. These impairments hinder a driver’s ability to react quickly and appropriately to sudden situations on the road.
Motor Skills: Alcohol affects coordination and balance, which are essential for controlling a vehicle. This results in difficulty steering, braking, or accelerating smoothly. Impaired fine motor skills further reduce the precision needed for safe driving maneuvers.
Vision: Alcohol can cause blurry or double vision by slowing down eye movements and impairing focus. It also narrows the field of vision, making it harder to detect objects outside the direct line of sight. Additionally, alcohol reduces night vision, complicating driving in low-light conditions.
Judgment and Decision-Making: Alcohol lowers inhibitions and increases risk-taking behavior, leading to reckless actions like speeding or ignoring traffic signals. It impairs judgment, resulting in poor decisions such as misjudging distances and speeds or failing to yield. This compromised decision-making endangers both the driver and others on the road.
Tracking Ability: Alcohol affects the ability to maintain a consistent lane position, causing weaving or drifting. It also makes it difficult to control speed, leading to erratic driving patterns. These impairments compromise overall vehicle control and increase the risk of accidents.
Information Processing: Alcohol hampers the ability to process multiple pieces of information simultaneously, such as listening to a GPS while monitoring the road. It also affects short-term memory, making it harder to remember directions, road rules, or traffic signals. These cognitive impairments reduce a driver’s overall awareness and responsiveness.

North Carolina Drunk Driving Laws

The legal limit for drivers aged 21 and over is a BAC of 0.08%. For commercial vehicle drivers, the limit is stricter at 0.04%. Additionally, North Carolina has a zero-tolerance policy for drivers under 21, meaning any detectable alcohol in their system can result in charges.

North Carolina’s implied consent law means that by driving a vehicle, drivers automatically consent to chemical tests (breath, blood, or urine) if lawfully stopped by an officer who suspects impairment. Refusing to take the test can result in immediate license revocation for at least 30 days and an additional one-year revocation by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

A first offense carries a jail sentence between 24 hours and 60 days, fines up to $200, and driver’s license suspension for one year.

Certain factors can lead to harsher penalties, such as:

Having a BAC of 0.15% or higher
Causing an accident resulting in serious injury
Driving with a revoked license due to a previous DWI
Having a child under 18 in the vehicle

Civilly, drunk drivers can be sued for damages by victims or their families, who may seek compensation for a wide range of damages. The consequences of driving under the influence extend beyond legal penalties, as they also encompass significant financial burdens and long-term personal and social ramifications.

Seeking Fair Compensation for Your Damages

While no amount of financial recovery can make up for the ordeal you have been through, a settlement or jury verdict can provide you with vital financial resources to cover your injury-related expenses and losses.

These may include damages such as:

Medical costs
Lost current and future income
Rehabilitation
Pain
Suffering
Mental anguish
Property damage

In the case of a wrongful death, you may seek compensation for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, loss of support, and more.

Our firm has many years of experience representing clients injured in car accidents caused by drunk drivers. We offer a free consultation during which you can discuss the details of your case and receive valuable personal injury information and advice regarding the claim process. Our attorneys are highly experienced litigators who provide professional and caring representation and will fight tirelessly for the monetary damages you are entitled to.

Understanding Your Rights after an Accident

The laws in North Carolina are very clear about the criminal sanctions for driving while intoxicated. A person convicted of DWI will face penalties such as jail time, fines, mandatory alcohol treatment, and driver’s license suspension.

On the civil side of the law, any person who was injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver can file a claim for monetary damages with the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier for injuries, medical bills, lost wages, property damage, mental anguish, and pain and suffering

North Carolina personal injury laws also allows victims of DUI accidents to pursue damages from the social host or bar/restaurant that overserved the drunk driver. Driving under the influence is a blatant form of negligence.

Not only did the driver break the law, but he or she also disregarded the safety of other drivers and passengers on the road and put innocent people’s lives—including yours or your loved one’s— at risk.

Why You Should Work with an Attorney

A settlement is best pursued with the help of a qualified North Carolina DUI accident lawyer. Your attorney will know how to prepare your claim and the type of documentation that will be needed to demonstrate the extent of your injuries and the impact they have had on your life. Without skilled representation, it will be much more difficult to obtain the full compensation you deserve.

At Lanier Law Group, we employ a collaborative, team-based approach to each case we take on. Our large team of experienced attorneys and dedicated legal staff works tirelessly to build thorough, exhaustive cases for injured victims and their families.

We know how to obtain medical records and we always work quickly with the goal of securing the full, fair compensation you are owed as soon as possible so you can get the critical care you need to move forward with your life.

Speak to us today about your legal rights and options during a free consultation; call 919-342-1368 or contact us online.

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Drunk Driving Accident

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Featured Reviews, Testimonials & Results

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There are times in your life you are so hurt and feel life has a grudge against you. Nothing in your life is going right. I lost the most important person in my life to death, of which I knew mistakes were made because I witnessed it with my own eyes. When you contact a law group you most of the time get all business and a matter of fact conversation. I want all to know that from the first phone call they listened to my lengthy story, sobbing most of the time with so much compassion. They never made any promises but offered assurances that no stone would be unturned. They fulfilled every word they said. They restored faith that I had lost. Until you are in a position like mine you can never know how invaluable Lanier Law Group is. They were wonderful while maintaining their professionalism. They treated me like a family member. They really do care about their clients. But most of all they are the best at what they do. I worked in the court system for years so I knew how attorneys and law firms basically operated. Understanding the law and it’s interpretation is the ultimate key to winning any case. Also know that if an attorney/attorneys study and review your case and know that you don’t have a chance in a court of law and are big enough to tell you that instead of giving you false hope, you then my friend have a group with valuable shared values. I have so much respect for everyone in this Law Group. I recommend Lanier Law Group, P.A. to anyone who needs representation, they are in your corner. 20 out of 10 stars.

- Diane W.

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I started working with Lanier Law Group in 2020 on my Social Security Disability case. They from start to finish were awesome. My case manager Janet Hanks and attorney, Ashley Sappenfield were always available to answer all my questions. I did not have to do much but sit back and let them handle whatever was needed. My case took too long (2 years) and if I did not have Janet and Ashley My case would still not be approved. I would recommend Lanier to anyone to get the job done and approved. Do not go to another firm with your case, who promise the world and do not see it to completion and do not think another firms would have worked as hard as they did on my case. Lanier Law Group will always be the choice for me and all my family members to handle any cases of this type and other legal services they provide. They went above and beyond!

- Phillip J.

"So thankful for your expertise and professionalism"

Mrs. Gonzalez did an awesome job of explaining everything in detail and keeping me informed on the status of my case. Despite poor customer service with the insurance company, Mrs. Gonzalez was able to fix what they could not. Mrs. Gonzalez was very helpful with helping me understand things that I was not aware of when dealing with insurance claims. I am so thankful for her expertise and professionalism.

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The staff kept me well informed in a more than timely manner and was always ready to answer any questions I may have.

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The Lanier Law Group provided excellent customer service! My main contact was Denise.

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