Oklahoma City Drunk Driving Accidents

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If you have been in an auto accident caused by a drunk driver, you can expect the police and courts to punish the driver according to Oklahoma’s criminal laws. But if you have suffered personal injury or property damage, you will need to seek relief through the civil justice system.

The lawyers of Burch, George & Germany can help you to seek this justice. We represent victims of drunk driving accidents across Oklahoma’s 77 counties. Contact us today to receive a free initial consultation about your case.

What Can You Recover in Drunk Driving Accidents Lawsuit?

Oklahoma law allows injured drivers, passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists or others harmed by a drunk driver to seek payments through a personal injury lawsuit. If the victim died in the crash, a wrongful death claim may be pursued.

A lawsuit would typically seek:

• Property damage ­– Your costs to repair or replace your vehicle can be recovered. You may also be reimbursed for payments to rent a car while your vehicle is in the shop or while you are shopping for a replacement.
• Medical expenses – Drunk driving accidents can cause serious injuries such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), neck and spinal cord injury, internal organ damage, broken bones and burns. Emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, medication, rehabilitation therapy and all other costs should be compensated.
• Lost wages – If you miss work because of your injuries, the wages you have lost may be part of your claim. But it is also proper to calculate future losses if a disabling injury makes you unable to return to work or forces you to take a lower-paying job.
• Pain and suffering – In addition to payment for the specific financial costs of a drunk driving accident, you may also seek compensation for your pain and suffering and emotional distress.
• Punitive damages – If the at-fault driver acts in a flagrant or egregious manner, which is often the case in drunk driving accidents, you can recover damages that are aimed at punishing and deterring this misconduct.

In the case of a fatal drunk driving accident, eligible family members can seek to recover funeral and burial expenses as well as damages for the loss of companionship.

Do You Have a Third-Party Drunk Accidents Driving Claim? Get Help from Our Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer.

In some cases, Oklahoma laws holds people who serve alcohol responsible for the harm drunk drivers cause.

The state’s “dram shop” law makes it illegal to knowingly sell, deliver or furnish alcohol to:

• Any person under age 21 (the legal drinking age),
• An intoxicated person or
• Any person who has been adjudged insane or mentally deficient.

A bartender or store clerk who violates this law (or the business that employs them) can be held liable if their customer causes a drunk driving accident later on.

Also, a social host who serves beer or other alcohol to guests who are younger than 21 may be held liable for a drunk driving accident their guest causes.

Bringing a third-party lawsuit will require an investigation to uncover evidence that links the driver responsible for your drunk driving accident to a party host, bartender or package store.

The Burch, George & Germany legal team knows how to conduct these investigations, including gathering debit and credit card receipts, cell phone records, witness statements and other records to show a drunk driver’s activities and whereabouts prior to a crash.

Our Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Oklahoma Helps Victims of Drinking and Driving Accidents.

If you have been hit by a drunk driver in Oklahoma and suffered personal injury, property damage or other losses, please contact a Burch, George & Germany attorney today. You may be able to obtain full compensation for all of your losses. However, it will require investigation and legal work that should be started immediately.

Call us today or fill out our contact form to set up a free initial consultation.

For More Information:

• Traffic Crash Facts, Oklahoma Highway Safety Office