Drunk driving is a huge problem in Oklahoma, as well as the rest of the country.
According to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, in 2010, there were over 4,500 alcohol-related crashes. Individuals who are driving under the influence can cause extensive property damage and serious injuries to other motorists.
Driving under the influence (DUI) applies to people who are under the influence of alcohol, prescription medications or illegal drugs.
In the state of Oklahoma it is illegal for motorists to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or above. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that a person dies in an impaired driving accident every 51 minutes.
If you are the victim in a drunk driver accident, contact our Tulsa personal injury attorneys at 1-800-304-9246.
Oklahoma DUI collisions can leave individuals with severe injuries. In 2010, nearly 350,000 people were injured in impaired driving crashes. Some common injuries sustained in drunk driving crashes include:
Sometimes individuals that are injured in DUI collisions are unable to work after their accident, leaving them in a financial bind. These accident victims may be eligible to seek legal action against the negligent motorist.
Thousands of people are unnecessarily killed in alcohol-related accidents every year. According to the NHTSA, there were 220 fatalities caused by impaired driving in Oklahoma during 2010. If you have lost a loved one in an Oklahoma DUI collision, you may have legal and financial recourse. Contact an Oklahoma wrongful death attorney to learn more about the legal rights afforded to a DUI victims family.
Individuals injured in DUI accidents may be able to file lawsuit against the negligent party. Depending on the facts of the case, additional damage may available to the accident victim and their loved ones. Plaintiffs may be able to sue the negligent motorist for compensatory and punitive damages.
Compensatory damages are meant to compensate the accident victim for any financial losses caused by the accident. Some common examples of compensatory damages include:
In addition, an accident victims spouse can seek damages for the loss of consortium.
When an individual has been injured or killed in an impaired driving accident, the motorist may not be the only party held accountable for the collision. Oklahoma laws allow individuals to seek legal action against drinking establishments such as restaurants, bars and clubs for their injuries or their loved ones death. These laws are often known as dram shop laws. Dram shop laws restrict drinking establishments from selling alcoholic beverages to:
If these individuals get into a drunk driving accident and injure or kill another person, the accident victim and their family may be eligible to sue the drinking establishment.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury from an alcohol-related accident, you may be able to file a drunk driving lawsuit. Contact the Edwards Law Firm today to explore your legal options.
The law firm offers free case evaluations the public. Our attorneys and staff have are available to assist accident victims in Tulsa and the surrounding communities.
