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(203) 690-1030
(203) 690-1030
Driving while intoxicated is completely stupid! There is no other way to put it. Not only are you putting yourself at danger, but you also risk seriously injuring or killing someone else. It is infuriating to get into a car accident, then to realize that the person that hit you is drunk. Trust, at Bert McDowell Injury Law, our dedicated car crash lawyers have that same passion against drunk drivers who have injured our clients. With offices in Bridgeport and the Hartford area, we are able to assist our clients throughout the State of Connecticut. We are aggressive in our investigation and strategic in our approach. If you were injured due to the negligence and recklessness of an intoxicated driver, it is important to hire a Connecticut drunk driving accident attorney to protect your rights.
There are instances when a drunk driver does not have sufficient car insurance to cover injuries. In Connecticut, drivers often try to save money by purchasing cheaper car insurance policies ($25,000.00 bodily injury limit). However, since drunk driving car accidents typically cause catastrophic injuries, it is important to have an experienced Connecticut drunk driving collision lawyer that can help you obtain maximum compensation.
In Connecticut, a jury may award double or treble (triple) damages to the plaintiff if it is determined that the defendant operated said motor vehicle with reckless disregard. Driving while intoxicated is considered reckless (high degree of danger is apparent); it involves conduct that is more than mere negligence. If it is determined that the defendant was under the influence, your damages, not only will we seek economic and non-economic damages for your injuries, we will also pursue punitive damages against the defendant. Punitive damages are damages awarded to the injured party in order to punish the defendant for his/her reckless conduct.
If you were hit by a drunk driver, you may have a claim against the bar/establishment that overserved that person. In Connecticut, we have something called the “Dram Shop Act.” Under the Dram Shop Act, a person or business that sells alcohol to a person who subsequently injures someone else may be held liable. However, there must be evidence that the person who caused the injuries was visibly or perceivably intoxicated when he or she purchased the alcohol, and the person’s intoxication was a cause of the injuries. It is important to note that in order to have any shot at pursuing a bar/establishment under the Dram Shop Act, you must give timely notice. This is why it is very important to call a drunk driving collision attorney in Connecticut that understands the laws of our state.
At Bert McDowell Injury Law, we move quick with our investigations in order to determine the facts of the accident. It is essential that we determine where the drunk driver was coming from on the day of the crash. It is likely that the drunk driver will have criminal charges. Therefore, we will contact the State Prosecutor in order to obtain additional information. We also obtain all video footage from the police department that investigated the scene of the accident. If you or a loved one has been injured due to a drunk driver, Bring On Bert!
After you have been in a Connecticut car accident, there are a few things you should try to do:
The police report is crucial to your injury case. The police report typically provides the officer’s thoughts on fault, witness statements, names and addresses of everyone involved, and their insurance policies.
Pictures and video recordings will help your injury case. However, you must take pictures/videos of every car involved. Evidence of property damage can be used to help increase the value of your injury case. These pictures/videos help demonstrate the amount of force that was applied at the time of the car accident.
If you are hurt, let the police officers know so that they can dispatch emergency services. Do not refuse medical attention when you are hurt. There are times, immediately after a car accident, when you may not feel any pain/discomfort. However, you begin to feel pain the next day or week. As soon as you begin feeling pain, visit a doctor as soon as possible.
It is very important that you contact a Connecticut drunk driving accident attorney to help you navigate through the chaos after a car accident. The insurance company is not on your side. They will do everything in their power to limit your rights to maximum recovery. With offices in Hartford and Bridgeport, we are able to assist our clients throughout Connecticut. Accomplished legal professional, Bert McDowell, used to represent insurance companies, and he uses those experiences to get his clients maximum compensation for his car accident clients. Call now to get started on your claim.