Drunk Driving Victims
If you or someone you know was hurt by a driver under the influence, contact Chain | Cohn | Clark as soon as possible. You have the right to hold the at-fault driver responsible and seek compensation for your injuries and losses.
Call us today to speak to our Bakersfield car accident lawyers.
Types of Injuries in Drunk Driving Cases
Every year, thousands of Californians suffer serious injuries or lose loved ones in accidents caused by impaired drivers. In Kern County, law enforcement officers arrest nearly 12 motorists per day for driving under the influence.
We regularly see the injuries DUI drivers cause, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Broken bones and orthopedic trauma
- Severe lacerations and disfigurement
- Burn injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Whiplash and soft tissue injuries
- Psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Drunk Driving Wrongful Death
Alcohol is involved in nearly half of all fatal crashes. In these tragic cases, we represent families in wrongful death claims, helping them pursue justice and closure after the loss of a loved one. Call 661-616-9829 to schedule your free consultation.
Why Are Drunk Driving Accidents Complicated?
While the cause of a drunk driving crash may seem straightforward, these cases can be surprisingly complex.
Here’s what makes these cases more involved:
Criminal and Civil Claims
The drunk driver may face criminal charges brought by the state, but your personal injury claim is a civil case, focused on financial recovery. These processes don’t always align, and the outcome of one doesn’t guarantee the success of the other.
Severity of Injuries
DUI collisions often occur at high speeds or involve hazardous maneuvers, such as wrong-way driving or running red lights. As a result, the injuries are often severe and life-altering.
Insurance Challenges
Insurance companies may try to lowball customers or argue that the victim shared some fault. Some drivers may be underinsured—or uninsured—leaving victims scrambling to identify additional sources of compensation.
Potential for Multiple Liable Parties
If a restaurant or bar over-served the driver who caused your accident, you may have a dram shop liability claim (limited under California law, but possible in certain scenarios involving minors). Employers may also be liable if the driver was working at the time of the crash.
Damages in Drunk Driving Injury Cases
Every case is different, but victims of California drunk driving accidents could be entitled to significant financial compensation, including:
Economic Damages
- Medical expenses. Hospital stays, surgery, rehabilitation, medication, and ongoing care
- Lost income. Past and future wage loss and reduced earning capacity
- Property damage. Vehicle repair or replacement (and other damaged belongings)
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship (in wrongful death cases)
Punitive Damages
Victims are entitled to punitive damages in drunk driving injury cases, which are awarded to both punish the defendant and deter similar future behavior. To be awarded punitive damages in a drunk driving case, you must show all three of the following:
- The driver voluntarily drank alcohol to the point of intoxication, knowing that they would be driving.
- The driver was aware of the probable dangerous consequences of their conduct.
- The driver willfully and deliberately failed to avoid those consequences.
Why Hire Chain | Cohn | Clark?
Chain | Cohn | Clark is committed to helping victims of drunk driving accidents. Our Bakersfield car accident lawyers are known for our:
- Strong track record. We have significant experience in dealing with cases involving victims of impaired driving crashes.
- Client-first approach. We aggressively pursue justice on your behalf while you focus on healing.
- Community outreach. Our firm regularly presents the annual Walk Like MADD and MADD Dash events, sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Kern County, as part of our ongoing effort to combat driving under the influence.
- No risk fee structure. You pay us nothing unless we secure compensation on your behalf.
Free Case Evaluation
If you’ve been hurt in a crash involving a drunk driver, let us help you take back control of your life. Call Chain | Cohn | Clark at 661-616-9829 to schedule your free consultation today!
$22.1
million
Pedestrian Accident
$15
million
Products Liability Explosion
$11
million
Auto Accident
$10
million
Oilfield Accident
$10
million
Motorcycle Accident
$9
million
Industrial Accident
$8.8
million
Police Misconduct
$8
million
Pedestrian Accident
Frequently Asked Questions After a Drunk Driving Crash
Even if the driver is being prosecuted criminally, that does not automatically result in financial compensation for you. You still need to file a civil personal injury claim to recover damages. A criminal conviction can strengthen your case, but it’s not a substitute for your own legal action.
If the at-fault driver is uninsured, you could still recover payment through your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. An experienced attorney can also investigate whether other parties—such as a bar, employer, or vehicle owner—may share liability.
Your lawyer’s role is to advocate for you at each step in the process. First, we gather evidence (police reports, blood alcohol concentration test results, surveillance footage, etc.) and examine every possible source of recovery—including the driver’s insurance, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist policy, and third-party liability. We also handle all communication with insurers and opposing counsel, getting you the full value of your case through aggressive negotiation or trial.
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