Virginia Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Our Richmond, Virginia DUI Victim Lawyer Can Help With Your Personal Injury Claim

Being involved in a DUI car accident can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, leaving you with serious injuries and unsure of how to protect your legal rights. The skilled team of personal injury attorneys at The Mottley Law Firm in Richmond, Virginia can guide you through the process and ensure that you are properly compensated for your injuries.

Common Causes of DUI Car Accidents

Drunk driving accidents can occur in a range of circumstances. In some situations, the driver is knowingly intoxicated and chooses to drive anyway. This can be particularly infuriating for DUI victims, as the car accident feels like it could have been especially avoidable.

In other cases, the motorist may have had too many alcoholic drinks but feels they are still capable of safely operating the vehicle. Regardless of why they are driving under the influence (DUI), drunk drivers are acting in a reckless and negligent way, putting other motorists on the road in peril. Their impaired state can cause car accidents for many reasons.

Impaired Judgment and Decision-Making Ability

Alcohol consumption significantly impairs a driver’s ability to make sound decisions on the road. They may misjudge speeds, distances, and the actions of other vehicles around them, leading to unsafe maneuvers and collisions.

Reduced Reaction Time

Alcohol slows down a person’s reflexes and reaction time. This makes it much harder for a drunk driver to respond quickly to changing road conditions, unexpected obstacles, or the actions of other drivers. This impaired reaction time greatly increases the risk of a crash.

Loss of Motor Coordination

DUI motorists often have poorer coordination, balance, and muscle control. This makes it difficult for them to control their vehicle, keep it centered in the lane, or make quick adjustments to avoid collisions.

Heightened Anger and Other Emotions

The consumption of alcohol and other intoxicating substances can reduce inhibitions and make drunk drivers quicker to anger. They become more prone to fits of road rage, which may lead to reckless driving behaviors like tailgating, swerving, and dangerous lane changes.

Injuries Often Suffered by DUI Victims in Virginia

Car accidents with drunk drivers can involve higher-speed collisions that happen very suddenly. As a result, DUI victims can suffer particularly severe injuries in these types of car wrecks. They can also experience shock and may develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) later on.

Examples of common injuries associated with DUI accidents include the following:

Traumatic brain injuries. Sudden, severe impacts can cause the brain to violently collide with the inside of the skull. This can lead to bruising, bleeding, mild concussions, and severe debilitating conditions.
Spinal cord injuries. The tremendous force suffered by DUI victims can cause the spine to compress, stretch, or even tear, leading to partial or complete paralysis. Injury victims may experience loss of sensation or mobility in their arms, legs, or torso.
Broken bones. Drunk driving accidents can result in broken bones, from simple fractures to compound injuries where the bone protrudes through the skin. Orthopedic injuries may cause not only severe pain and suffering but also require extensive medical treatment and physical therapy with extended periods of disability.

Steps You Should Take as a DUI Victim After a Car Accident

If you’ve been involved in a car crash with a drunk driver in Virginia, the first and most important step is to seek immediate medical attention. Follow all of your doctor’s instructions, including medication, rehabilitation regimens, and follow-up appointments.

Once your health is stabilized, speak with a skilled personal injury lawyer who can help you navigate the legal process and ensure your legal rights are protected. At The Mottley Law Firm, we are here to guide you through every step of filing a car accident claim.

Crucially, DUI victims need to know that civil action is separate from any criminal charges the drunk driver may receive. The courts may convict the drunk driver of DUI, resulting in jail time or fines, but the outcome of the criminal case does nothing to compensate DUI victims for their injuries. It is only with a personal injury claim that they can seek compensation.

How Our Virginia DUI Victim Lawyer Can Help

When you work with the skilled team at The Mottley Law Firm, you can rest assured we will use our extensive experience and legal knowledge to fight for the best possible outcome for your case. We will start by thoroughly investigating the circumstances surrounding your car accident and gathering all relevant evidence, especially regarding the intoxication level of the drunk driver.

As we build a more complete and accurate picture of what happened, we can develop a powerful legal strategy using compelling evidence to support your claim. We will negotiate with insurance companies, advocating for your legal right to receive the full and fair compensation you deserve. If a settlement cannot be reached, we are prepared to take your case to court and defend your rights before a judge and jury.

We encourage you to review our case results to better understand the results we have achieved for our clients. While we cannot guarantee a specific outcome, we are committed to using our skills and resources to help you navigate this difficult time and achieve the best possible resolution for your personal injury claim.

Have You Been Injured in a Virginia DUI Accident?

If you've been injured in a Virginia rideshare accident, you should speak with an experienced DUI accident lawyer as soon as possible. The passion of The Mottley Law Firm is to protect the legal rights of clients who have suffered life-disrupting car accident injuries, so you can focus on regaining your health.

No matter where you are in Virginia, we want to hear from you. Contact us online or call our Richmond, Virginia office directly at (804) 409-0876 to schedule your free consultation.

We welcome clients throughout Virginia, including the communities of Bon Air, Glen Allen, Highland Springs, Laurel, Mechanicsville, Short Pump, and Tuckahoe.

We also have the ability to handle personal injury cases across the United States with appropriate local counsel admitted in the jurisdiction. Schedule your confidential consultation today.