Pine Bluff Drunk Driving Accidents
Auto Crash Lawyers Serving Pine Bluff Can Help You in Your Case Against a Drunk Driver
As anyone in Pine Bluff who has been in a car wreck can tell you, the financial toll, damages, and injuries sustained can be long-lasting. However, one thing that can literally add insult to injury with an auto collision is if the at-fault driver was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Fortunately, judges and juries in Pine Bluff and Jefferson County frequently determine that the degree of fault on a driver who causes a car wreck while intoxicated is much more egregious than a driver who was not intoxicated. In addition to contacting the police and the at-fault party’s auto insurance company after any motor vehicle accident, you should also call a Pine Bluff drunk driving accident attorney who can advise you of your legal rights if you are hit by an intoxicated driver.
Facts About Driving Under the Influence in Arkansas and Pine Bluff
Between 1995 and 2007, there was an annual average of 13,557 driving under the influence (DUI) arrests in Arkansas, with between 140 and 180 fatal accidents involving DUI drivers during that time period. Although the number of DUI arrests decreased considerably during that time period (going from more than 15,000 DUI arrests per year in the 1990s to less than 10,000 DUI arrests during the 2000s), there are still far too many drunk drivers on Arkansas roadways.
Although everyone knows that operating a motor vehicle when one’s blood alcohol content (BAC) exceeds 0.08% is a crime, driving after having consumed any alcohol at all can still be dangerous. Drivers with BAC levels between 0.01% and 0.07% also caused numerous fatal accidents in Arkansas between 1995 and 2007.
Of course, these statistics unfortunately do not tell the entire story; although alcohol contributes to a large number of drunk driving and DUI auto accidents in Arkansas and Pine Bluff, many car wrecks are also caused by drivers operating their vehicles under the influence of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines, heroin, opioid painkillers, sleep medication, or other illicit or prescription/pharmaceutical drugs. A survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2013 and 2014 cited evidence that drug and alcohol use impairs motor skills, which can negatively influence a driver’s focus, lane tracking, and other cognitive functions and abilities. The facts don’t lie – driving under the influence is a recipe for disaster for anyone on the road, but our drunk driving accident attorneys can help Pine Bluff residents regroup in this challenging situation.
What to Do After Being Hit by a Drunk Driver in Pine Bluff
If you suspect that the driver who hit you or your vehicle may have been operating their vehicle while intoxicated, call the police immediately and advise the dispatch official who takes your call that you suspect the other driver is intoxicated. Common signs that someone may be intoxicated include, but are not limited to, blood-shot eyes, slurred speech, unsteady gait, stumbling and/or falling, and having the odor of alcohol on one’s breath. Depending on your location, the Pine Bluff Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, or Arkansas State Police may respond to the scene to interview all parties and witnesses and make a report. If the police determine that the other party is intoxicated, they will likely cite them for the accident and arrest them at the scene for DUI or DWI.
Next, if you are hurt, sore, or in any pain at all, you have the right to get checked out by a doctor. Many people may not feel pain immediately after an accident when adrenaline levels are heightened, but once the excitement and emotion of the car wreck wanes and adrenaline levels stabilize, pain can intensify. Many Pine Bluff residents in need of medical care following an accident are treated at Jefferson County Regional Medical Center or another urgent care facility. Do not delay – the longer you wait to get medical treatment, the harder it may be to prove that your injuries were caused by the car wreck.
Last, but not least, no time is too soon to consult an attorney. A drunk driving accident lawyer in the Pine Bluff area can assist you with gathering the evidence needed to build your case so that you can be compensated for your losses, which will likely include damage to your vehicle, medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Punitive damages, which are awarded as punishment for particularly egregious conduct, can be pursued in drunk driving accident cases as well. Our lawyers can guide you through the process of a car accident insurance claim, from start to finish.
Contact Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz Today for a Free Consultation with a Pine Bluff Drunk Driving Accident Attorney
With offices in Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, and Mississippi, Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz has been serving those injured in auto accidents for more than 30 years. Residents of cities and towns like Pine Bluff, Hot Springs, Little Rock, Dumas, Fordyce, Malvern, Conway, Searcy, Stuttgart, Forrest City, Wynne, Paragould, and Jonesboro have trusted NST to represent and advocate for them in car wreck cases against drunk and impaired drivers. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident caused by an intoxicated driver, call NST today at 800-529-4004 or complete our online form for a free consultation with a dedicated car accident lawyer.