Injured in a Drunk Driving Crash in North Carolina? You May Be Entitled to Compensation

 Posted on December 23, 2021 in Personal Injury

Suffering serious injuries in a car crash is always a traumatic experience, but it is even more heart-wrenching if the accident was caused by drunk driving.

Thankfully, North Carolina law allowed people injured by drunk drivers to file a personal injury claim and pursue compensation. A successful claim may result in significant compensation, known as damages, that addresses the victim’s financial losses.

Compensation Available to Drunk Driving Victims

The injured party may be entitled to damages that compensate them for injuries they incurred as a direct result of the defendant’s wrongdoing. Damages are intended to make the victim “whole again.” 

Monetary Damages - Monetary damages address the injured person’s financial losses, such as medical bills and lost wages. These claims are easily quantifiable and can be proven with documents such as medical bills, receipts, and pay stubs.

Non-Monetary Damages - Non-monetary damages address the non-financial consequences of the car accident and are more difficult to translate into a dollar value. In this category are things like pain and suffering and lost quality of life.

Punitive Damages - Compensatory damages address the plaintiff’s injuries directly caused by the defendant’s wrongdoing. When a court issues punitive damages, they are not so much interested in compensating the victim but punishing the defendant.

Punitive damages are only granted in extreme circumstances when the defendant’s conduct is worthy of such ignominious labels as “wanton, reckless, and grossly negligent.”

A Lawyer Can Help You Pursue the Compensation You Deserve

A lawyer adds value for their client in multiple ways. Firstly, they can file a lawsuit on their behalf. A lawyer understands how a suit should be structured and can identify and preserve the evidence critical to the case.

Additionally, a lawyer may be able to negotiate a settlement with an insurance company. Unfortunately, many insurers try to avoid financial liability after a crash, having a lawyer by your side says you mean business.

Contact a Raleigh, North Carolina Personal Injury Attorney

Overcoming a serious drunk driving crash is never easy, even in the best of circumstances. You may be dealing with debilitating physical injuries, lost wages, and medical debt.

Vasquez Law Firm, PLLC appreciates the challenges victims face, which is why they have dedicated their careers to helping regular North Carolinians obtain compensation through the legal system.

We have considerable experience handling drunk driving cases and have represented clients of all backgrounds.

Speak with one of our skilled Wake County, North Carolina personal injury lawyers for legal guidance.

Source:

https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByChapter/Chapter_1D.pdf