DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENTS ATTORNEYS IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
Call a DUI Accident Lawyer in Alexandria, VA
Car accidents are traumatic incidents that cause lasting damage and serious injuries. Often times, crashes that are caused by the actions of drunk drivers and other intoxicated individuals are even more severe, and can inflict serious bodily injury and even death on innocent motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and more. Drunk drivers (DUI or DWI) are among the leading causes of accidents on Virginia roads.
If you have been the victim of a car accident involving a drunk driver, you need an experienced and aggressive attorney to fight for you. You should call an attorney right away!
The Alexandria Injury Attorney has been fighting against drunk driving for his whole career. In 1988, in the case of Booth v. Robertson, 236 Va. 269, the Virginia State Supreme Court decided for the first time that punitive damages could be assessed against a drunk driver who negligently injured an innocent person. Attorney Joseph A. Blaszkow was among the first Virginia attorneys to take advantage of this decision, in a 1989 Prince William County case in which he obtained a jury verdict of $775,000.00, including punitive damages of $125,000.00. Mr. Blaszkow recently obtained yet another $250,000 settlement in an Alexandria case involving a drunk driver who struck a pedestrian. (multi-part settlement)
Punitive Damages are an additional set of monies assessed by the Court to punish the negligent party for conduct that the Court considers uniquely reckless and dangerous. These damages are distinct from - and in addition to! - compensatory damages, which seek to compensate you, the injured party, for the expenses, time lost from work, and pain and suffering caused by the negligent person's conduct.
Are Drunk Driving Cases Different From Regular Car Accidents?
The fact patterns of how the accident happened are investigated in a similar manner, but a drunk driving case requires a deeper investigation into the actions and history of the tortfeasor, or person who caused the accident - in this case, the person who was driving while under the influence, and who caused the crash. Our investigator searches for the drunk driver's movements, to find out where they were drinking, and how it came to pass that the drunk driver caused the accident in question. We are searching for patterns of behavior, and anyone else who knew of the drunk driver's conduct.
In a drunk driving accident case, from the injured person's perspective, however, the answer is "no," because we do everything we can to focus the client on simply getting better, while we handle the rest.
As in all cases, we are accumulating evidence for trial from Day One, when a client walks into our office. We prepare every case for trial, and the insurance companies know that.
What is Required for a DUI/DWI Claim in Virginia?
In order to assert a claim against another driver, beyond a normal negligence claim, we have to prove that the person was intoxicated. Under Virginia law, a person is intoxicated if their Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is in excess of 0.08%. In order to make a claim for punitive damages, the person's BAC must be 0.15% or more.
A claim can also be made if the person was under the influence of drugs/narcotics.
What Should I do If I Was Hurt by a Drunk Driver in Virginia?
If you were involved in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, you should call our office right away - 703-879-5910. We will assist you in dealing with an already-stressful time, while also gathering evidence to make your claim as strong as possible, and will fight hard to get you the compensation you deserve.
Mr. Blaszkow and his team have represented many individuals injured as the result of accidents caused by drunk drivers and are ready to put that experience to work for you. Call Blaszkow Legal, PLLC today for a free consultation.
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Virginia Punitive Damages Statute: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title8.01/chapter3/section8.01-44.5/