Merced Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

You deserve justice If you or someone you love is a drunk driving accident victim. Driving drunk is more than negligent driving. Driving under the influence shows an utter lack of respect for the safety of every other person on the road. Sadly, drunk driving is also utterly unnecessary. Despite the availability of rideshare programs, public transportation, and different modes of transportation, intoxicated driving remains a threat to everyone.

Suppose you are a drunk driving accident victim or are a family member of someone killed by a drunk driver. In that case, Silva Injury Law is ready to help you maximize your financial recovery. We treat every client like a member of our family. Our philosophy is to promote healing through compassionate advocacy. While we endeavor to solve problems, our lawyers understand how to leverage their knowledge and experience to deliver justice to you and your family.

Drunk Driving Accident Damages

Drunk driving crashes cause severe injuries and frequently kill innocent victims. Often, the innocent victim is severely hurt or killed, and the intoxicated driver walks away without a scratch. There is something inherently unfair when that happens. At Silva Injury Law, we pride ourselves on helping make things right again.

Our firm understands how to help you get justice for your drunk driving crash. We achieve justice by holding every person who played a role in your crash responsible for their carelessness. The people who are responsible for your injuries or the death of your loved one may owe you monetary compensation for:

Hospital bills,
Surgical expenses,
Doctors’ bills,
Rehabilitation costs,
Prescription medication costs,
Medical devices,
Anticipated future medical bills,
Lost wages or salary,
Loss of economic gain,
Lost enjoyment of life,
Pain and suffering,
Disfigurement,
Emotional distress, and
Vehicle repair or replacement.

If you lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident, you may be entitled to wrongful death damages.

You also might be eligible to demand punitive damages in your drunk driving lawsuit, depending on the circumstances of your case. At Silva Injury Law, we use our skill, knowledge, and resources to get the most out of your settlement or judgment so that you get the justice you deserve.

Why Do I Need A Lawyer When I Am A Drunk Driving Accident Victim?

Law enforcement officers can bring DUI and other appropriate charges if they have probable cause to believe that the other driver committed a crime. The district attorney’s office will prosecute the alleged offender. Working closely and cooperating with the prosecution can help convict the other party of drunk driving, which can help you achieve justice for yourself and your family. Assisting the prosecution can benefit your drunk driving lawsuit as well.

But you should understand that the prosecutor is not your attorney. A prosecutor represents the interests of the state and not any one particular person. Only Merced drunk driving accident lawyers have your best interests at heart. Also, the prosecution cannot pursue monetary damages for you and your family. While the prosecutor can request restitution for out-of-pocket expenses you incurred, that is not sufficient to make you whole.

Additionally, the prosecutor can only go after the party who drove drunk. A skilled drunk driving accident attorney knows how to investigate cases like yours to identify all of the parties who have civil liability.

Those parties may include:

Homeowners,
Restaurant owners,
Bar owners, and
Parents of teenage drivers.

Prosecutors would have no authority over those other parties unless they committed a crime.

The Outcome of a Criminal Prosecution Will Not Affect Your Claim

It’s also important to keep in mind that a civil drunk driving accident claim can proceed even if the criminal charges cannot. Sometimes courts throw out criminal charges because of procedural violations. A dismissal or not guilty finding will not preclude you from pursuing a civil lawsuit. Remember that the standards of proof in criminal and civil cases are different. Even if the prosecutor cannot prove the other driver guilty of DUI, your personal injury claim can proceed against the other driver based on negligence rather than a criminal act.

Our Merced Office Address

1170 W Olive Ave
Suite G7
Merced, CA 95348
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