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.
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.
