Marion Drunk Driver Accident Lawyer

Thousands of people die or are injured every year by drunk drivers. The destructive behavior of these individuals leads to serious consequences for innocent people and themselves. In addition, it also points to months of court trials and legal actions taken against the offending party.

A Marion, AR personal injury lawyer from Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC will work hard to ensure that innocent victims of DUI or DWI are compensated. Fight for justice and compensation if a loved one has been injured in an accident with a drunk driver by contacting us today. We can support you during this stressful and uncertain time.

Why Drunk Driving Is So Dangerous

Among U.S. traffic deaths, nearly one-third are due to alcohol-related driving behavior (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI). Below are some reasons driving while drunk is harmful.

1. Poor Decision-Making and Judgment

Alcohol clouds judgment. If a person drinks too much, they can make bad decisions they would not otherwise make and regret them in the morning or after sobering up.

2. Slow Coordination and Response Time

The body will be slower to react to certain situations when alcohol is in the system. A person will be less likely to respond to something happening as quickly if they are sober because their reaction time is slowed.

3. Reduced Vision

When driving, clear vision is vital, and excessive alcohol consumption can impair vision. Vision may become blurred, or the eyes may move on their own after drinking. A person may even temporarily lose control over their eyes.

4. High Chance of Crashing

Despite a decline in traffic fatalities in recent years, alcohol-related crashes still cause about 10,000 deaths in the United States each year. According to the CDC, approximately one out of every three motor vehicle fatalities in this country are related to alcohol.

The dangers of drinking and driving have been emphasized in numerous warnings and increased education as well as public awareness, but drivers continue to do so, despite being faced with stiffer penalties for doing so.

5. Legal Ramifications

Drinking and driving put more at risk of death to you and others, but a person can also face serious legal consequences if they do so. The penalties for these crimes have been raised in all states, and violators will be arrested and charged with the appropriate crime.

What to Do if You’ve Been Involved in a Drunk Driving Accident

Because a drunk driver may be dangerous or belligerent, you must take different steps after an accident involving drunk driving. Before leaving the scene, you should do the following:

• Contact the police immediately. After the dust has settled, contact the police and tell them that the other driver appears drunk. Generally, you should wait until the police arrive on the scene before speaking to the driver.
• Look at the dangers surrounding each vehicle. There could be a possibility of a secondary car crash if the drunk driving accident took place on a busy highway. Keep your distance from severely damaged vehicles that could start a fire or collapse.
• Assess your injuries and those of other victims. As soon as the police have arrived and there is safety, evaluate the damage. Everyone who is not seriously injured needs to exit the vehicle to receive more accessible medical treatment.
• Photograph everything. Start taking pictures of the entire scene as soon as you can, paying attention to every detail, from the vehicle damage to injuries to the weather and lighting conditions. The photographs will clarify any signs, obstructions, and traffic control devices that may have caused the accident.
• Interview the drunk driver with the police present. To file an accident claim, obtain several pieces of information from the drunk driver. To be safe, however, wait until you have a police officer with you to gain these details. 

Why You Need a Marion, AR Drunk Driver Accident Lawyer After a 

Hiring a lawyer can be very beneficial if you were injured in a DUI accident and are unaware of your legal rights. When you receive medical attention, you should contact a DUI accident attorney. Attorneys who specialize in DUI accidents can:

• Make sure you’re compensated for your injuries
• Take the financial burden off you
• Keeping your case from getting dismissed if you go to trial

Obtaining Compensation from a Drunk Driving Accident

Don’t allow the insurance company or the defense to take advantage of you. You can recover a fair settlement that reflects your losses by contacting a drunk driver accident lawyer in Marion, AR.

Seeking compensation after a car accident is crucial. Hiring a lawyer and negotiating a settlement or pursuing compensation through the court system is the best way to address this situation. 

Having gathered evidence, interviewed witnesses, and conferred with opposing counsel, the legal representative may explain the best path.

Drunk Driving Accident Statistics to Know

U.S. drivers who drink and drive endanger their lives and cause their insurance rates to increase. 

According to a survey, dangerous behaviors involving drunk driving have declined over the past year:

• Alcohol is recognized as having a solid impact on 38% of respondents, whereas only 30.5% believed this last year in 2020.
• Only 23.7% of survey respondents said four or fewer drinks would prevent them from drinking, whereas last year, this was more than one quarter.
• From 2020 to 2022, the percentage of people who drove while buzzed dropped from 18.9% to 17.3%.
• Millennials (Generation Y) are regarded by 37.8% of respondents as the most likely generation to drink and drive.
• The generation most likely to drive drunk, according to respondents, is Generation Z (16-24-year-olds).
• In the study, 18.9% of Generation Xers (40-54 years old) reported driving after drinking.

Injuries from Drunk Driving Accidents

Sober drivers are less likely to avoid a crash by evading action than drunk drivers. As a result of this and the unsafe driving practices they engage in, victims tend to suffer significantly more severe injuries, if not fatalities. Among the most common injuries are:

• Burns
• Brain injuries
• Organ damage
• Spinal injuries
• Limb damages
• Soft tissue injuries

Drunk Driving Statute of Limitations in Arkansas

Depending on how many times you are convicted of drunk driving in Arkansas, how much intoxication you are found to be, or whether you endanger a minor, the penalties become progressively harsher.

A first-time offender faces imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of $150 to $1000, and a 120-day suspension of their license. First-time offenders who have passengers under 16 must serve a mandatory seven-day sentence in jail. 

In addition, if a first-time offender’s blood alcohol concentration exceeds .15, their license will be suspended for 180 days. In both cases, an ignition interlock can be used instead of a license suspension to prevent further violations.

Dram Shop Liability in Arkansas

The dram shop laws of Arkansas allow a person injured by the actions of an Arkansas officer to sue an alcohol vendor for damages caused by that officer.

• People under 21 years of age or people under the legal drinking age
• Visibly intoxicated

According to law, “clearly intoxicated” means that someone is so intoxicated that they pose a clear danger to others.

Contact a Marion, AR Drunk Driver Accident Attorney Today

Driving under the influence of alcohol is inherently reckless. These dangerous behaviors can devastate victims and their families when they result in accidents.

When you or someone you love has been injured by a drunk driver, Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC are here to help. Our drunk driver accident attorney in Marion, AR understands that there are many options available to you for pursuing compensation, including bringing claims against the drunk driver, the establishment that served the alcohol, and others.