Riverside Drunk Driving Accidents

Although there has been a public campaign against drunk driving for years, some people still choose to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or consuming drugs. It is a reckless move. Tragically, these accidents may cause serious injuries or even death to innocent people. A drunk driver may face criminal charges, but this does not necessarily help a victim pay for medical expenses or address their pain and suffering. If you were injured or a loved one was killed by an intoxicated driver, the Riverside drunk driving accident attorneys at Sharifi Firm may be able to help you recover damages.

When someone has been driving under the influence, resulting in an accident that caused your injuries, the criminal case is separate from a civil case for damages. However, a criminal conviction makes it more likely that you can establish negligence per se against the driver. Negligence per se is negligence as a matter of law, and it applies when someone violates a safety law and thereby causes injuries of the type that the law was intended to forestall. For many plaintiffs, negligence per se is helpful because it shifts the focus of the case from liability to damages. Even if negligence per se does not apply, or there was no criminal conviction, evidence that a driver was under the influence strongly weighs in favor of a finding of negligence.

If you successfully establish a defendant's negligence, you may recover economic and noneconomic compensatory damages, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of consortium. Punitive damages awarded to punish and deter wrongdoing are rarely awarded in car accident cases, but they may be awarded in drunk driving accidents because the act of drunk driving is considered reckless and egregious. Our drunk driving accident lawyers can help Riverside residents pursue all of the damages that may be appropriate in their case.

In many cases, the only party that you may hold responsible is the drunk driver and, in limited circumstances, their employer. For example, if a pizza delivery guy is drunk in the course and scope of delivering pizzas for his employer, you may be able to hold the employer vicariously liable for the pizza delivery guy's negligence.

There is no dram shop liability in California. Under Civil Code section 1714, bar owners and bartenders are explicitly protected from civil liability if they served drinks to someone who injures or kills a victim while intoxicated by alcoholic beverages served by the bar. There is an exception, however, for adults who provide alcohol to someone under age 21. In those cases, the adult's decision to provide alcohol to someone underage may be the cause of any resulting injuries, and you may be able to hold them accountable.

Riverside is the county seat of Riverside County in California. It is located about 60 miles south of Los Angeles. The city is served by three freeways—I-215, State Route 91, and State Route 60. The injuries arising out of a drunk driving accident may be catastrophic, necessitating medical care, time off from work, and even lifelong care. At Sharifi Firm, our Riverside drunk driving accident lawyers may be able to help you recover compensation if you were injured by an intoxicated driver. Contact us online or call us at (866) 422-7222 to set up a free appointment with a car accident lawyer.