Phoenix DUI Accident Injury Attorneys

From the moment you get your driver’s license, you learn: “Don’t drink and drive.” The message is also plastered on billboards along the highway and emphasized in every high school driver’s ed course. So, after getting into an accident with a drunk driver in Phoenix, you’re reasonably frustrated.

If you suffered injuries in a drunk driving accident, you could file a civil claim or lawsuit against the negligent driver. A Phoenix DUI accident injury lawyer from Gallagher & Kennedy can offer the support you need. We can file your case, document your damages, and advocate for financial justice. Call us today to begin a complimentary case review.

Why Choose a Phoenix DUI Accident Attorney at Gallagher & Kennedy?

After you get into an accident involving a drunk driver, you could face many obstacles when pursuing damages. The Phoenix drunk driving accident attorneys at our firm can navigate those issues. When you want a legal advocate, you can trust our team to handle your obligations.

When you choose our Phoenix personal injury attorneys, you can expect us to:

• Treat your drunk driving accident case like it’s our own
• Fight for justice
• Advocate for fair compensation
• Offer peace of mind when you want it most

With over 210 years of collective experience, our attorneys know the ins and outs of the laws surrounding drunk driving accidents in Phoenix and across Arizona. Once we start working on your case, we do everything possible to help you. By letting us focus on your claim, you can focus on feeling better.

How We Help Drunk Driving Accident Victims in Phoenix?

After your drunk driving accident, you could feel angry, confused, or depressed. We understand how you feel. That’s why we want to serve as more than your lawyer. We want to be part of your support system someone you can rely on in your time of need.

You can trust us to:

• Investigate the drunk driving accident, injuries, and the other party’s negligence
• Navigate any insurance-related issues that could arise
• Speak to the other parties on your behalf
• Negotiate a fair settlement agreement
• Determine your economic and non-economic damages
• File your claim
• Negotiate with the insurance representatives
• File a lawsuit (if the other party refuses to settle)

How Long Do I Have To File a Drunk Driving Accident Claim in Phoenix?

In Arizona, you generally have two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. This deadline starts counting down from the date of the collision. Because of this tight deadline, it helps to consider your legal options as soon as possible. While we can manage your case’s deadlines, you must reach out to us first. Then, we can set your case in motion and build a compelling argument against the negligent party.

We Work on Contingency

Our attorney’s fees are contingent on your case’s outcome. This means, if you don’t recover compensation, we don’t request payment for our time and efforts.

Other things to know about this arrangement include:

• We finance your case’s consulting and filing costs.
• You pay nothing upfront to retain our help.
• Part of your settlement pays for our efforts.

Contingency-based legal help is just one thing you could learn about during your free case review.

We Offer Free Consultations

To learn what it’s like to partner with our team, you could read our testimonials, reviews, and entire website. Or, you could reach out to our team for a free consultation. During our conversation, we will listen to your story and explore your legal goals. What’s more, you can ask us any questions you have about your case. That way, we can put your mind at ease moving forward.

Recovering Damages in a Personal Injury Claim After a Drunk Driving Accident

Using receipts, bills, and invoices, our team can calculate the value of your damages. These damages include the monetary and non-monetary losses you sustained due to the accident.

Compensable losses include:

Economic Damages

Economic damages include any monetary loss you incurred because of the drunk driving accident. These damages include tangible losses that you could prove with medical bills or receipts. Our attorneys fight for the economic damages you need to make your family financially whole again.

Examples of economic damages you could recover include:

• Medical expenses: These include any expenses you had to pay regarding your medical care. Medical care could include visits to the emergency room, visits to the doctor, ambulance rides, surgeries, diagnostic testing services, and both prescription and over-the-counter medications.
• Future medical expenses: Our team can calculate the value of your future medical expenses. Examples include physical therapy, assistive medical devices, and surgeries.
• Lost income: You could recover any income you lost while you recovered from the accident. We can also include the loss of any benefits, such as paid time off and bonuses.
• Future lost income: Our legal team can calculate the value of your future income losses, if your injuries will prevent you from working. We can speak to experts and utilize our collective knowledge to determine how much compensation to seek.
• In-home nursing care: If your injuries are severe, you could require in-home nursing care. In-home nursing care can cause you to pay a lot of out-of-pocket costs. If you require this service, our legal team can fight for what you need.
• Rehabilitative treatments: You could require rehabilitative treatments to regain your mobility and independence. Rehabilitative treatments could include speech therapy, occupational therapy, or physical therapy.

Our legal team can help you organize receipts and other documents to prove you incurred these monetary losses. By including this information in your initial claim, you could present a strong case to the liable insurer.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages include any non-monetary loss you sustained because of the drunk driving accident. While these damages don’t come with documentation, they’re still compensable. We use your injury’s severity, number of days missed from work, and other factors when calculating these damages.

Examples of non-economic damages you could recover include:

• Pain and suffering: Your injuries could cause you to experience physical pain every time you perform a task or even while at rest. If you have dealt with intense physical pain, you could recover compensation for that loss.
• Emotional distress: Your injuries or the accident could cause you to deal with anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, or even depression. If you face these negative psychological issues as a result of the accident, you could recover those damages.
• Loss of enjoyment: If you once enjoyed an active lifestyle, such as taking walks or playing sports, you could recover damages for loss of enjoyment of life.

The law identifies these damages as subjective losses, meaning there isn’t an exact monetary amount associated with them. Therefore, a knowledgeable attorney from our firm can learn what you deserve.

Drunk Driving Accidents in Phoenix are Costly

Drunk drivers can cause irreparable harm to other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and families across Phoenix. One bad decision can tear a family apart, result in a lifelong disability, and cost millions of dollars. Understanding the extent of this harm is crucial for both awareness and legal action.

Physical Cost of a Drunk Driving Accident

One of the most immediate and visible effects of drunk driving accidents is physical injury. Victims may suffer from a range of injuries, from minor bruises and lacerations to severe, life-altering conditions like spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or amputations. These injuries can lead to long-term health complications, requiring ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and, in some cases, lifelong care. The financial burden of such care can be immense, often necessitating substantial compensation into the millions.

Emotional and Psychological Trauma

When drunk drivers cause accidents, victims can suffer significant emotional and psychological trauma. The shock and stress of the event can lead to conditions such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These mental health issues can be as debilitating as physical injuries, affecting a person’s ability to work, engage in social activities, and enjoy previous lifestyles. The cost of mental health treatment and therapy, though less quantifiable, is an essential component of the recovery process.

Financial and Economic Loss

The aftermath of a drunk driving accident often imposes a significant financial strain on victims and their families. This includes not only medical expenses but also loss of income, especially if the victim is unable to return to work. The financial impact can extend to the cost of vehicle repairs or replacement, modifications to homes in cases of permanent disabilities, and other incidental expenses. The economic fallout can disrupt the financial stability of a family, sometimes for years following the accident.

Impact on Quality of Life and Relationships

A drunk driver can also destroy relationships, families, and the victim’s overall quality of life.  Long-term injuries may limit a victim’s ability to engage in hobbies, sports, or other activities that they enjoyed before the accident. This loss of enjoyment of life is a profound consequence that affects not just the individual, but also their relationships with family and friends. The stress and challenges of coping with the aftermath can strain personal relationships, sometimes leading to social isolation or family conflict.

 

Our Case Results Attest to Our Commitment to Client Success

If you want compensation, we intend to do everything possible to get it.

Just look at the results we’ve secured for others in your situation:

• More than $60 million after a bus defect led to injuries and fatalities
• $10 million for the parents of a child hit by an inattentive motorist
• $4.5 million after a cement truck hit our client

We hope to resolve your case by requesting compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. Yet, the insurer may deny liability, saying that it doesn’t pay for losses stemming from its client’s intoxication. If that happens, we can explore other options, such as filing a lawsuit.

Steps to Take After a Drunk Driver Hits You in Phoenix

Getting hit by a drunk driver can change your life instantly. However, you could take steps immediately after the accident (and in the coming days) that could strengthen your case against the liable party. If possible, we suggest that you:

Call the Police

If you’re still at the accident scene, call law enforcement immediately. Ask them to send an ambulance to take care of those injured. While waiting for the police, try to get out of traffic and to a safe area to wait.

During this interaction:

• Don’t admit fault for the accident. Even saying something like, “I’m sorry,” could imply you caused the accident. You don’t want to say anything that could even make you partially to blame for what happened.
• Avoid accusations of fault. An accident scene can quickly get heated. Avoid speculating about who caused the accident or making assumptions about the other party’s sobriety. Law enforcement understands how to recognize signs of drunk driving and can include those details in the accident report.
• Request a copy of the police report. You want to make sure that the police report accurately describes the collision and its aftermath. By requesting a copy, you can double-check for any inaccuracies. Clearing up these misunderstandings is easier sooner rather than later.

Accept Medical Care at the Accident Scene

When the emergency medical response team arrives, have them do a full evaluation even if you feel fine. Your adrenaline could mask any pain you feel, even masking the symptoms of life-threatening conditions. A medical professional can identify if you have any severe injuries and render the appropriate care. Accepting medical care at the accident scene could serve as the groundwork for your injury case.

Obtain the Contact Information of the Other Drivers Involved

If your injuries allow, get as much information as possible from the drunk driver, including their:

• Insurance information
• Vehicle’s make and model
• Vehicle’s license plate number
• Contact information
• Full name
• Driver’s license number

By getting this information, your attorney could follow up with the driver or their insurance company. If the drunk driver is too intoxicated to give you their information, be sure the police arrive at the scene to file a police report.

Gather Evidence From the Scene

Try to gather evidence from the accident scene. Evidence could include photographs of the accident scene and your car’s damage. Video footage can help, too. Anything that could prove how the accident occurred and who caused it could bolster your case.

Identify Witnesses

Again, if your injuries allow, identify people who witnessed the accident. Ask them about what they observed when the accident happened. Ask them to write down or record their observations, too. Over time, details could get fuzzy. The information they provide could have more value by getting an immediate witness statement.

Obtain their contact information in case you need their statement or testimony in the future.

Get Follow-up Medical Care

After the accident scene clears, get checked out by your general practitioner, urgent care doctor, or emergency room doctor. The severity of your injuries could impact how soon you need to get medical attention. Getting the medical attention you need can prove you took care of your injuries. They didn’t worsen because you failed to get the appropriate medical care.

A medical professional can provide the necessary treatment plan to help your injuries heal. Also, they can provide documentation of your injury’s diagnosis. You can include this information as evidence in your DUI accident injury claim.

Speak to a DUI Accident Injury Lawyer Serving Phoenix

When a drunk driver’s negligent actions cause you harm, you should consider consulting with an attorney following your accident. At Gallagher & Kennedy, we can get to work on your case immediately. We can navigate the complexities of your case, including any liability disputes. We share your goal of seeking maximum compensation for your losses.

Speak to Our DUI Accident Injury Team About Your Case Today

If you or a loved one sustained injuries from a DUI accident, you might not know who to turn to. To explore your options, you can call on the DUI accident injury attorneys serving Phoenix from Gallagher & Kennedy. Soon after you reach out to us, you can expect to learn about your legal options with our personal injury law firm. We understand drunk driving accidents in Phoenix and have success representing individuals and families affected by these catastrophic accidents.

Contact us today for your free case review by calling (602) 530-8400. When you choose to work with our firm, we commit to helping you seek compensation through a settlement or through the court system. We go above and beyond for our clients and take the necessary steps to build a solid injury case for you.

---

Client Testimonial

“100% would recommend, especially Maria Raciti. Communicative, transparent and professional..” – J. Martin. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read more of our Google reviews.

Gallagher & Kennedy — Phoenix Office

2575 E Camelback Rd, Suite 1100
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Tel: (602) 530-8400