Drunk and impaired driving continues to pose serious hazards throughout the country. Despite widespread public service campaigns about the dangers of drunk driving and enhanced law enforcement presence, drunk driving continues to be a problem in Maine.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Independence Day week was forecasted to be the deadliest in 2022. Previously from 2016 to 2020, there were over 1300 fatalities over the Fourth of July period, and over 40% of the drivers who died were drunk. Thus, motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and anyone else using the road over the Fourth of July weekend should use special care to avoid an accident.
Of course, no amount of care can avoid every accident. Drunk drivers, by definition, are operating with impaired judgment. Thus, these accidents tend to occur randomly and without any advance notice. A drunk driver may run through a red light, cross over the median, or drift up onto the sidewalk, giving potential victims almost no time to react.
Maine personal injury law allows DUI accident victims to pursue legal claims against drunk and drugged drivers. If successful, accident victims can recover compensation for their economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include the out-of-pocket expenses accident victims face as a result of the collision, including past and future medical expenses, lost wages and any decrease in earning capacity.
Non-economic damages compensate victims for the emotional and psychological impact that the accident had on their lives. However, because an accident’s impact on a victim’s life depends on the victim’s individual circumstances, non-economic damages are subjective. Common types of non-economic damages awarded in a Maine DUI accident include compensation for physical pain, disability, disfigurement, loss of consortium, emotional distress and loss of familial relationships.
While proving that a drunk driver was negligent may seem straightforward—and often it is—it is still important to identify the full extent of an accident victim’s damages. Insurance companies will often attempt to minimize an accident victim’s injuries to avoid paying out large sums of money. However, once an accident victim accepts an insurance company’s settlement offer, they are stuck with whatever sum of money the insurance company offered. Thus, before accepting an insurance settlement following a DUI accident, victims should first consult with an experienced attorney.
Have You Suffered Injuries in a Maine Car Accident?
If you or someone you know has suffered serious injuries or died in a Maine drunk driving accident, contact the experienced attorneys at Peter Thompson & Associates. The lawyers on our team understand the devastating toll a drunk driver can have on accident victims, their activities of daily living, and their future. We provide clients with zealous advocacy to ensure they secure the compensation the law entitles them. In addition to Maine drunk driving injury cases, our office handles matters involving dangerous or defective products, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, and other personal injury claims. Contact our office at 800.804.2004 to schedule a free initial consultation with an attorney on our team.