Elk Grove Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
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Elk Grove Drunk Driving Accident Attorney
Drunk driving accidents can leave you with life-changing injuries. After these incidents, you may have many financial, personal, and health concerns that make a legal claim feel secondary. An Elk Grove drunk driving accident lawyer can help you file a claim and get the compensation you deserve.
Why Choose Us?
Guenard & Bozarth, LLP has spent years helping the people of Elk Grove, Sacramento, and surrounding cities with their injury cases. Our team has over six decades of combined legal experience. Our senior partner, Glenn Guenard, was named a top-rated personal injury attorney by Super Lawyers and was voted into the American Board of Advocates, an exclusive invitation-only group made to recognize attorneys with exemplary legal accomplishments.
Overview of Elk Grove Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk driving is a serious public health concern nationwide. In 2023, 12,429 people died in drinking-related accidents, a rate of one every 42 minutes. In 2022, the Elk Grove Agency for the Office of Traffic Safety reported 548 people injured or killed. You don’t have to be driving on a major thoroughfare like Elk Grove Boulevard or Golden State Highway to be involved in a drunk driving incident.
What to Do After a Drunk Driving Accident
Your actions after a drunk driving accident can dictate your future legal options. The following are a few steps to take in the minutes, days, and weeks after an accident:
Seek Medical Attention
The first thing to do after a drunk driving accident is to check yourself and other passengers for injuries. If you are seriously wounded, seek immediate medical attention. Your health and well-being are the priority. The largest 24/7 emergency department in Elk Grove is Dignity Health, located at 8220 Wymark Dr, Elk Grove, CA.
You should still seek medical care even if you feel fine. Some injuries don’t show symptoms right away.
Call Law Enforcement & Gather Evidence
Next, call 911. In California, you are legally required to report an accident within 24 hours if injuries occurred. If your condition is stable, collect evidence of the accident. This can include:
- Photos and videos
- Notes on the other driver’s condition
- The other driver’s contact information
- Witness statements and their contact information
- Police reports
- Medical records
Evidence collected right after an incident is valuable for both insurance and legal claims later on.
Hire a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
After the incident has been reported and you have seen a doctor, hire a drunk driving accident lawyer. Your Elk Grove drunk driving accident attorney can speak with insurance companies on your behalf, review your case, and guide you through the next stages of your claim.
File a Claim
In California, drunk driving accidents often fall under personal injury law. These cases center around proving that the other party involved was negligent or acted recklessly. If another driver was intoxicated, it could make it easier to prove negligence in court.
The deadline to file a claim in California is within two years of the incident, making swift action vital. Your attorney can draft the formal claim, which includes the details of the case, how the other driver was responsible, and a demand for compensation.
Negotiate a Settlement
Oftentimes, personal injury claims are settled before reaching trial. A drunk driving accident lawyer can play a key role in this process, advocating for you to get the settlement you deserve without the need for litigation. Compensation can cover medical bills, loss of income, damage to quality of life, diminished earning capacity, and property damage.
Going to Trial
In the event that your case goes to trial, legal counsel is necessary. Litigation can be a long and difficult process. An experienced attorney can represent you through the proceedings, both in and out of court.
FAQs
Q: What Is the Average Settlement for a Drunk Driving Accident in California?
A: There is no set average settlement for drunk driving accidents in California. The final sum changes based on the extent of injuries, the degree of negligence, and whether the defendant settles. An early settlement for minor damages may result in a lower settlement than a claim that goes to trial and involves a serious injury like paralysis. Your drunk driving accident lawyer can provide an estimate for the settlement amount you can expect.
Q: How Much Does a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Cost in California?
A: How much a drunk driving accident lawyer costs in California depends on the severity of injuries, the complexity of the case, and whether you go to trial. A case involving minor damages and a quick settlement tends to be cheaper than a claim involving multiple parties, disabilities, and a lengthy trial. Another element that can affect costs is the payment model, with different attorneys billing by the hour, through retainer charges, or flat fees.
Q: What Compensation Can You Receive for a California Drunk Driving Accident?
A: The compensation you can receive for a California drunk driving accident typically comprises economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and other financial impacts of the incident. Non-economic damages focus on other ways the event harmed you, such as pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and disfigurement.
Q: What if You Are Partially Liable for a Drunk Driving Accident in California?
A: If you are partially liable for a drunk driving accident in California, you may still be eligible for compensation. California is a pure comparative negligence state, meaning that you can still file a personal injury claim if you contributed to an accident. Your level of responsibility influences the percentage of damages you can receive. If you demand $100,000, and the courts find you 50% at fault, you can only receive $50,000.
Speak With an Elk Grove Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Today
Our team at Guenard & Bozarth, LLP, understands how difficult a distracting driving accident case can be. We have the experience and knowledge that can make a positive impact on your claim.
Contact us today for an initial consultation, where we can learn your story and discuss your potential legal options. You may also visit our Elk Grove office, open 24 hours a day, located on Elk Grove Boulevard, a few blocks east of the Post Office and a few blocks west of Elk Grove Library.
Elk Grove Practice Areas
Vehicle Accidents
INJURY PRACTICE AREAS
VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
We will promptly investigate your car, motorcycle or truck crash to pursue maximum damages.
INJURIES ON PROPERTY
Wrongful Death
PERSONAL INJURY
We fight back when legitimate claims are unfairly denied by insurance companies.
INSURANCE BAD FAITH
Bad faith litigation is becoming more common as the insurance industry continues to engage in dishonest practices that trample the rights of policyholders.
INSURANCE COMPANIES KNOW US BECAUSE THEY’VE PAID OUR CLIENTS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
$2.9
MILLION
CAR ACCIDENT INJURY
Guenard & Bozarth llp obtained a $2,962,903 jury verdict in the Sacramento County Superior Court for plaintiff David Schoonover, who suffered head and neck injuries and fractures in a head-on accident on Roseville Road in Roseville on July 22, 2012
$300
THOUSAND
HAIR SALON INJURY
Guenard & Bozarth LLP recently settled a case for $300,000 involving a hair weave that went terribly wrong. Our client was a young lady, and aspiring model, who experienced pressure necrosis from a tight weave and it changed her life.
$500
THOUSAND
SLIP & FALL INJURY
Guenard & Bozarth LLP recently settled a slip and fall case for $500,000 a couple weeks before trial. The client slipped and fell on a wet piece of cardboard in a grocery store and sustained a serious shoulder injury that required surgery.
$300
THOUSAND
NEGLIGENCE INJURY
On February 13, 2013 Maricela, a Certified Nursing Assistant presented to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Emergency Room with complaint of neck and back pain. She was diagnosed with a neck strain and was given Ibuprofen and instructed to return if her symptoms did not subside.
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