Hattiesburg Drunk Driving Accidents
Mississippi Attorneys Fighting for Hattiesburg Crash Victims
Drunk driving accounts for nearly 33% of all traffic-related deaths each year. Startling statistics reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that approximately 121 million people drive under the influence of alcohol each year – leading to over 300,000 incidents of drinking and driving per day. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that every 50 minutes, someone is killed by a drunk driver. The dangers of drunk driving are clear and apparent, but unfortunately they are still not taken seriously by some. If you have been injured in a car wreck with a driver under the influence of alcohol, call the Hattiesburg drunk driving accident lawyers of Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz. For over 30 years, our attorneys have assisted thousands of injured victims and their families in recovering fair compensation after crashes involving drunk drivers.
Drunk Driving Accidents in Hattiesburg
Drunk driving is against the law, plain and simple. Similar to distracted drivers, drunk drivers can exhibit significant lapses in judgment in addition to physical symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and blurred vision. In Mississippi, you can be cited for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and arrested if you are caught operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher. Calling the police following a crash is recommended, as officers from the Hattiesburg Police Department will be trained in identifying intoxicated drivers and conducting necessary testing, such as a field sobriety test or blood test. The other driver being charged with and/or convicted of DUI can go a long way in proving your case.
Drunk driving accidents often result in serious or life-threatening injuries to all involved. Many times, those injured may suffer permanent disabilities that prevent them from working or enjoying time with their family and friends. If you have been injured by a drunk driver, then you may be entitled to compensation for what you have lost. However, to recover compensation, you will need to establish that the drunk driver was legally liable for the injuries that you sustained. Liability is generally established by proving the drunk driver acted negligently or recklessly. Negligence refers to breaching a legal duty owed to someone else to act reasonably under the circumstances, while recklessness involves showing a wanton or willing lack of disregard for the well being of other people or property.
To illustrate a drunk driving accident, let’s say that you and your family are headed to the Hattiesburg Zoo when a drunk driver runs the red light at the intersection of Hardy Street and 17th Avenue and collides with your vehicle. Here, you can show negligence by proving that the other driver operated the vehicle while intoxicated and disregarded a red light, crashing into your vehicle. If the impact caused you to get hurt and suffer injuries documented by a doctor or hospital, you can recover compensation. You may also be entitled to damages for lost wages, pain and suffering, and repairs to your vehicle.
A special element of compensation may be awarded in drunk driving accident cases, known as punitive damages. These damages can be awarded by proving the other driver acted with “gross negligence which evidences a willful, wanton, or reckless disregard for the safety of others.” Our car accident lawyers can help Hattiesburg victims by looking into all areas of compensation and theories of recovery allowable under Mississippi law.
Under Mississippi law, the drunk driver may try to say that you were the one who caused the accident or try to place a large percentage of the blame on you. Mississippi is a pure comparative fault state. This meaning that your recovery is based on the percentage of fault attributed to you. For example, if it is found that you are 20% at fault, you will only be able to recover up to 80% of whatever is awarded to you. Hiring an attorney to investigate the accident and fight for you is crucial when part of the blame is being allocated to you.
Retain a Hattiesburg Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Today
Drunk driving often results in tragic consequences that leave innocent parties severely injured. Often, those who have been involved in an accident with a drunk driver in Forrest County are intimidated by insurance adjusters who try to avoid paying what victims are rightfully entitled to recover under the law. Serving all of Mississippi, the car accident attorneys at Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz have handled thousands of drunk driving accident cases and have zealously fought for our clients every step of the way. We serve injured parties all across Mississippi, including areas such as Hattiesburg, Gulfport, Biloxi, Picayune, McComb, and Brookhaven. Contact our office by calling 800-529-4004 or by completing our online form to set up a free consultation. Once you get to know us, you will realize that NST is the way to go.