Paducah Drunk Driving Accidents
Helping People Hit by Drunk Drivers in Paducah
Kentucky, like all states, faces the issue of drunk driving. There is a reason why getting behind the wheel while drunk or intoxicated is against the law. Alcohol causes side effects that significantly affect one’s ability to drive safely. For example, drunk drivers experience issues with perception and concentration. Further, they typically have slower reaction times, which leads to accidents that otherwise could have been prevented. A car wreck can turn a victim’s life upside down in an instant, leading to costly medical bills, time off work, and painful injuries. To learn how a Paducah drunk driving accident attorney can help during your time of need, call Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz. We are a large regional personal injury law firm that has been dedicated to fighting for the rights of injured victims for more than 30 years.
Accidents Caused by Drunk Drivers in Kentucky
In Kentucky, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. Offenders can be arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI). Police officers look to strictly enforce DUI laws because drunk driving is highly dangerous. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 2,000 people died in drunk driving accidents in Kentucky between 2003-2012. Despite heavy media attention and public awareness campaigns highlighting the risk of driving while drunk, people continue to get behind the wheel while inebriated. Unfortunately, statistics also show that the drunk driving death rate in Kentucky outpaces the national average. For example, the national death rate in 2012 was 3.3 people per 100,000 population. In Kentucky, that figure was 4.0 people.
Pursuing a Case for a Drunk Driving Accident
As with any car accident, our drunk driving accident lawyers advise Paducah residents to call the police to the scene. However, in the context of a drunk driving accident, calling the police is particularly important. The responding law enforcement agency, which could be the Paducah Police Department or McCracken County Sheriff’s Department, will conduct a complete investigation into all facets of the crash. If drunk driving is suspected, the officer can conduct a field sobriety test or request a blood test. Further, the officer can note other evidence of intoxication, such as open alcohol bottles, blurry eyes, slurred speech, or the odor of alcohol.
Kentucky personal injury laws allow those injured in a collision with a drunk driver to recover compensation for their injuries and losses. However, to do so, liability must first be established. By hiring a drunk driving accident attorney in the Paducah area, you can focus on the recovery process while your attorney conduct a thorough investigation. Here are some of the ways in which our DUI accident lawyers can help injured victims:
- Obtain police reports
- Interview witnesses
- Monitor the defendant’s criminal case for DUI/DWI
- Consult with experts
- Investigate the accident scene
Once liability is established, the focus of the case can shift to compensation, also referred to as damages. Our attorneys regularly look into all potential avenues of recovery for injured clients. In drunk driving accidents, multiple classes of compensation may be recovered, depending on the circumstances. The first is compensatory damages. These damages are designed to make a victim whole, as if the rack never happened in the first place. These damages are what one might expect – medical bills, lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses, property damage, pain and suffering and other documented losses. Another area of compensation can come in the form of punitive damages. In contrast with compensatory damages, there is a heightened burden needed to establish punitive damages, which is clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted toward the victim with a flagrant indifference to that person’s rights while aware that the conduct would result in either death or bodily harm. An experienced Paducah drunk driving accident lawyer will understand which classes of damages can be pursued on your behalf.
Let Our Accident Attorneys Get Started on Your Case Today
Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz is a full-service personal injury law firm, here to help you with all parts of your case from start to finish. For a free consultation with a drunk driving accident lawyer that serves Paducah, call 800-529-4004 or complete our online form. While drunk driving accidents are normally preventable, the unfortunate reality is that they still take place at way too high a rate. Our law firm can serve people injured throughout Kentucky, including the greater Paducah area. Whether your accident took place in Paducah, Murray, Benton, or Mayfield, contact us so we can help get you on the right track. For an experienced car accident lawyer who will be dedicated to fighting for your rights, NST is the way to go.