LA Drunk Driving Accident Attorney

There are few things in ordinary society that are as shameful and selfish as getting behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated. As with all states, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 percent or more in California. However, that does not stop millions of intoxicated driving trips in our state every year. Alcohol impairs the nervous system to slow reaction time. Intoxicated drivers feel invincible, and caution and all rationality often go out the window the higher the blood alcohol content. While alcoholics are able to control the outward symptoms of intoxication, it does not mean that they are at all safe behind the wheel of a two-ton automobile. If you or a loved one of yours was injured or killed by a drunk driver, do not hesitate to contact an experienced drunk driving accident attorney with the Los Angeles law offices of Fisher & Talwar today at (213) 891-0777. You deserve financial compensation for your significant losses, and the negligent party needs to be held fully accountable for their irresponsible actions.

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Death of a Family Member All Practice Areas

Do Not Go it Alone. A Drunk Driving Attorney Will Fight for Every Dollar that You are Owed

Every personal injury lawsuit or settlement, including those for injuries caused by a drunk driver, depends on the quality of your lawyer, the extent of your damages, and the size of the insured’s policy, or their personal financial worth. Our attorneys work tirelessly for our clients to ensure that they receive the maximum compensation possible. Do not accept a quick, low offer from an insurance provider that is merely looking after its own profit margins. An experienced, aggressive attorney at Fisher & Talwar will provide the legal counsel needed to pour through the fine print of the most complex insurance policy and, if necessary, take the fight to court and win. Our Los Angeles drunk driving attorneys have a proven history of success in and out of the courtroom and strive to provide our clients with the financial resources needed to get back on their feet after a serious, traumatic injury caused by an intoxicated driver.

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If you have been injured, contact us for a free review of your case and learn about your legal options.

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Drunk Driving on a Steady Decline Since the 1980s But Still the Cause of Nearly One Third of all California Traffic Fatalities

SAMPLE RESULTS

$6 million – Auto Fatality

$1.5 million – Truck Fatality

$1.25 million – Drug Litigation

$3 million – Construction Defect

$4 million – Defective Tire

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It was not long ago that up to 25,000 people were killed every year in drunk driving crashes. While there has been a significant decline in drunk driving fatalities over the previous three decades, drunk driving is still a serious problem in California. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), 29 percent of California traffic fatalities are caused by drunk drivers. Cars have become safer, police enforcement has increased, and social pressure to abstain from driving while drunk has helped to save thousands of lives. Yet, in the 10-year span from 2003 to 2012, there were 10,327 casualties of the drunk driving epidemic in California, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Even Small Levels of Blood Alcohol Content Cause Crashes

While anything at or above 0.08 BAC is illegal in all 50 U.S. states, research has proven that even levels as low as 0.04 significantly impair a person’s judgment and reaction time. Any amount of alcohol in the blood system is unsafe when driving a motor vehicle. Sadly, many DUI-caused fatalities result from BACs much higher than 0.08, with most fatal crashes being caused by driver’s with BACs over 0.1. The breath or blood test performed by the officer, or hospital, will reveal the BAC of the negligent driver that caused your injuries.

Alcohol Makes Safe Driving Impossible

Someone who has consumed too much alcohol is a clear danger on our roads. We have found that someone under the influence of alcohol suffers from multiple impairments:

Impaired vision. A drunk driver can see double or be sensitive to light and look away from oncoming traffic during the night.
Poor judgment. A drunk driver might run a red light or try to pass another motorist when it is illegal to do so.
Impaired coordination. Just as a drunk can’t easily stand on one foot, they can’t easily control a steering wheel, causing them to drift into traffic.
Delayed reflexes. Intoxicated drivers are slow to respond to stimuli. They could see a car coming at them but not be able to brake or pull away in time.
Fatigue. Intoxicated drivers sometimes fall asleep while driving, making an accident inevitable.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Attorney Vibhu Talwar

The Penalties for Drunk Driving in California: Not Enough to Deter DUI Drivers

While the financial cost of dealing with a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) is high for the individual, the legal and financial costs are not high enough to deter repeat offenders. According to California Courts, a first time DUI offender can expect to spend between four days and six months in jail, 10 days to one year for a second offense, and 120 days to one year for a third offense. However, these maximum jail sentences are rarely given. Serious fines and expenses for traffic school are usually incurred, as well, as are license suspensions. Yet, repeat offenders always seem to get back behind the wheel all too soon. According to MADD, one-third of all drivers convicted of driving while intoxicated are repeat offenders. And, the average convicted drunk driver has driven while intoxicated 80 times before their first DUI arrest. The chances that the driver who caused your injuries had driven drunk before are extremely high. Make no mistake, this was not a one-time “accident” on their behalf. While they deserve to be punished to the full extent of the law, you deserve to be fully compensated for your injuries, property damage, and pain and suffering.

Compensation For Medical Bills, Pain and Suffering, and More

If you were injured by a drunk driver, you may be able to receive financial compensation for the following:

Medical bills;
Future medical costs;
Lost earning capacity;
Pain and suffering;
Loss of enjoyment in life;
Scarring or permanent disfigurement;
Property damage; and
Lost wages.

If a loved one was killed by a drunk driver, you may be able to receive the following financial compensation:

Loss of companionship, which is especially relevant for parents with young children;
Loss of enjoyment in life;
Medical costs;
Funeral or burial costs; and
Loss of a financial provider.

To ensure that you are fully compensated for what you are owed it is vital to work with an experienced attorney who has a history of success in these types of cases.

Criminal versus Civil Drunk Driving Cases

If you were hurt by a drunk driver, then there will probably be two legal cases going on at the same time: one criminal, one civil. The criminal case is brought by the prosecutor to seek the penalties outlined above. A drunk motorist should lose their license and face the prospect of time in jail, probation, and community service. As the injured victim, you might be called to testify if the criminal case goes to trial, but that is basically the extent of your involvement.

Instead, you will seek compensation for your injuries in a civil lawsuit. The prosecutor does not file the civil suit—you do. You can also negotiate with the drunk driver’s insurer to seek fair and adequate compensation without needing to go to trial. Because you file the case, you and your attorney are responsible for collecting evidence and presenting it to the judge or jury.

In many ways, criminal and civil cases overlap. For example, they might use the same evidence. Our legal team can use the results of a chemical test to establish the driver’s blood alcohol concentration. We can also call witnesses who might have testified in the criminal case.

However, the two cases are distinct. In some situations, it even pays to wait for the criminal case to conclude before going ahead with a civil case. Talk this over with your attorney.

What to Do after a Drunk Driving Accident

Many drunk drivers are speeding or taking some other risky action which causes a serious collision. Many of our clients are badly injured in drunk driving crashes. What should you do following the crash?

First, seek medical attention for anyone injured. If you are so badly hurt you can’t move, ask someone to call an ambulance.
Second, report the crash to the police. An officer needs to come out to arrest the drunk driver and keep him off the road.
Third, if you can move around, take photographs of where the vehicles have ended up. If possible, get a picture of the defendant also.
Fourth, record your memories of the driver. Did you see him with a beer bottle in his hand? Did you see an open container in the car? Was his speech slurred or movement unsteady?

These steps promote our clients’ well-being and strengthen a claim for compensation.

Call a Los Angeles Drunk Driving Crash Attorney Today

If you were injured in a car crash caused by a drunk driver, or if your loved one lost their life due to a drunk driver’s negligent behavior, do not hesitate to call a lawyer today. Reach out to the experienced and aggressive drunk driving accident lawyers of Fisher & Talwar today at (213) 891-0777 for a free consultation and immediate legal representation.

Free Consultation

Fisher & Talwar

801 S Grand Ave, 11th Fl,
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 891-0777

Hours

Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm
Sat-Sun: Closed
By appointment only.

Email

Vibhu Talwar – vt@fishertalwar.com

Driving Directions

From CA-110 southbound take exit towards 6th St/Wilshire Blvd. Continue on 6th St, turn right on S Grand Ave., arrive at 801 S Grand.From CA 110 northbound take the 6th St/9th St exit toward Downtown/ Convention Center/ Figueroa St. Merge onto W 9th St and follow until turning left on S Olive St. Turn left on W 8th St, then left again on S Grand Ave.

Our offices are located 9 minutes from Dodger Stadium, 3 minutes from Staples Center, 3 minutes from LA Live, 5 minutes from Los Angeles City Hall, 3 minutes from Walt Disney Concert Hall, 7 minutes from Union Station, 25 minutes from San Fernando Valley and 20 minutes from San Gabriel Valley.

Metro Directions

From Union Station take either Metro Red or Purple line. Go past Civic Center and Pershing Square; get off at 7th Street/Metro Center. Head south on Flower St, or Hope St (depending on which side you come out). Turn left on 8th St.

Parking

We offer free parking to our clients. Park in the structure at 801 South Grand Avenue and ask us to validate your parking.

Some of the Cities We Service:

Long Beach
Anaheim
Santa Ana
Riverside

Irvine
San Bernardino
Oxnard
Moreno Valley

Glendale
Huntington Beach
Santa Clarita
Garden Grove

Pasadena
Palmdale
Lancaster
Pomona

Other Los Angeles Practice Areas

LOS ANGELES DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENT LAWYER