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118 Capitol Street, Suite 400, Charleston, West Virginia 25301

Charleston, West Virginia Auto Accident Lawyers Represent Victims of Drunk Drivers

You deserve compensation when an impaired driver injures you

For a successful auto accident injury claim, you must prove that the other driver was negligent. When the other driver was drunk, proving negligence becomes more clear-cut. In fact, the West Virginia Code says that anybody who was injured because someone else violated a law can recover the damages that resulted from that violation.

West Virginia juries have no sympathy for drunks who get behind the wheel and cause car crashes, so the compensation in a personal injury case involving a drunk driver is generally greater than the norm. That’s why insurance companies are reluctant to take an injury case to trial when their insured driver was driving under the influence (DUI). And that’s why the settlements generally are more substantial.

At The Giatras Law Firm, PLLC, we have many years of experience negotiating with insurance companies and winning settlements for injury victims. If the insurer doesn’t offer you a fair settlement, we’ll see them in court. When we handle your claim, you pay us no fees until you receive compensation.

What constitutes drunk driving in West Virginia?

West Virginia criminal DUI laws sets clear standards, based on blood alcohol content (BAC), for when a driver is legally impaired. Those standards include:

  • Regular, noncommercial drivers are DUI when their BAC is 0.08 percent or greater.
  • Drivers of commercial vehicles are DUI when their BAC is 0.04 percent or greater.
  • Drivers younger than 21 are DUI when their BAC is 0.02 percent or greater.

Drunk drivers were responsible for 557 wrongful deaths in West Virginia between 2006 and 2011, and cost the state more than $414 million in 2011 alone.

Are there any other possible sources of compensation?

When a bar or liquor store sells alcohol to someone who is intoxicated or underage, the seller incurs dram shop liability. That means the bar or liquor store can be responsible for any injuries to innocent parties that were caused by the customer. The lawyers at The Giatras Law Firm, PLLC explore all possible sources of compensation when you have been injured in a auto accident or truck accident.

What damages can I recover if a drunk driver injured me?

If you were the victim of a drunk driving accident, you deserve compensation. Our legal team brings drunk drivers to justice and helps you regain a firm financial footing. The damages you can recover include:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Past and future loss of income and earning capacity
  • Past and future pain, suffering and emotional distress.

When the victim dies as a result of the auto accident, the deceased’s estate can pursue a wrongful death claim. The victim’s family would be entitled to recover damages for:

  • Monetary losses
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of companionship

Contact our Charleston, WV attorneys when an impaired driver injures you

If you have been hurt in a crash involving a DUI driver, The Giatras Law Firm, PLLC can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us online or by phone 888-819-1281 to schedule a free consultation. We can be reached 24 hours a day.