DUI Accident Injury Lawyer Riverside

Riverside DUI Accident Injury Frequently Asked Questions

The experts from the DUI accident injury law firm of Samer Habbas & Associates know all too well about the damage and chaos that a negligent drunk driver can cause because they’ve handled countless cases involving victims of drunk drivers. Using their expert knowledge, the Samer Habbas & Associates team has compiled this comprehensive list of answers to the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) that they have encountered working with Riverside DUI accident victims and their loved ones.

Can you get a DUI the morning after drinking in California?

Many people fail to recognize that drivers in California can be charged with DUI if they are still measurably intoxicated or impaired by alcohol in the morning after a night of drinking. A common misconception is that a night of sleep will give a person the time to process and eliminate alcohol in the body. Far too often, an individual, following a night of drinking, will fail to recognize that they are still under the influence the following day. Because of this, it is common for next-day DUI accidents and DUI charges to occur.

How can I prove the driver who hit me was drunk?

In order to prove the driver who caused your accident was drunk at the time of the incident, there are several steps that you can take to build your case. Even if the driver is not charged with a DUI, you may still be able to file a claim with a Riverside drunk driving accident attorney and prove negligence as the result of DUI through other means.

Here are some of the ways that you can prove that the driver who caused your injuries was drunk at the time of the accident:

• Take videos or pictures: Whenever possible, be sure to take photos or videos following the accident. That includes getting video of the driver, especially if they seem intoxicated, or taking a picture of any open containers in or around their car. These can help you prove that the driver was drunk at the time of the accident. You should also take photos of any damage or personal injuries that might help your case.
• Contact the police: If the police believe that the driver who caused the accident is intoxicated, they will administer a sobriety test, including a breathalyzer. If the driver’s blood-alcohol level exceeds the legal limit, you will automatically have the proof that you need to show that the driver was drunk at the time of the accident. Be sure to gather all of the contact information from the police so that you can obtain your own copy of the official police report.
• Utilize cameras: Download and save several copies of your vehicle’s camera footage in multiple locations if your car has a dashcam. If the dashcam footage shows evidence of the driver breaking dangerously, driving erratically, or speeding, regardless of whether or not they were drunk, it could be helpful to your case. Also, check the accident site of CCTV cameras. Many intersections have traffic light cameras, and nearby businesses have surveillance cameras, both of which can be useful if they were able to capture the accident. Ring doorbells are also a great source of footage in these situations. However, you should not delay acquiring this vital footage because it is not uncommon for footage to be deleted regularly.
• Utilize Social Media: If you can’t prove that the driver was drunk at the time of the accident, you might be able to prove that they were at a bar before the incident occurred. Ask your DUI accident injury lawyer to check the driver’s social media channels. If there is evidence of them drinking alcohol before the accident, it can help with your claim.
• Contact a DUI Accident Attorney: A personal injury attorney specializing in DUI accident lawsuits will be able to navigate the complexities of proving that the driver who hit you was negligent and under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

Who can be held responsible for a drunk driving accident?

California puts the liability squarely on the drunk driver in DUI accidents. However, there are instances where another party may also be liable.

Other liable parties can include:

• The vehicle’s owner: If the drunken driver that caused your accident was driving a car they didn’t own, the vehicle’s owner also bears responsible according to California’s Financial Responsibility Law. The owner might also be found negligent if it can be proven that they knew or should have known that the driver had a history of drinking and driving but let them use the car anyway.

• The driver’s employer: If you were hit by an intoxicated trucker, taxi driver, or another commercial vehicle driver, their employer will usually have to share liability for the driver’s actions. That employer might also be found negligent if it can be proven that they knew or should have known that the driver had a history of drinking and driving but let them operate a vehicle on behalf of the company anyway.

• Bars, restaurants, and social hosts: Anyone who serves an intoxicated person under 21 will have limited liability in a DUI accident claim in California.

How many people die in drunk driving accidents?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 people die due to drunk drivers each day in the U.S. That breaks down to one person every 52 minutes killed by a drunk driver. However, it doesn’t end there. Many more DUI accident victims suffer severe and life-altering injuries from drunk driving accidents.

Drunken driving isn’t just selfish. It is dangerous and a leading cause of traffic accidents in Riverside. Alcohol consumption can significantly impact a driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that seven percent of all accidents involve alcohol. Drunk driving kills 10,000 people yearly and accounts for more than 28 percent of all accident fatalities combined.

Contact a Riverside DUI Accident Injury Attorney if You’ve Been Injured by a Drunk Driver

If you or someone you love was injured by the negligence of a drunk driver in Riverside, you might be entitled to compensation for your damages. Contact an experienced California DUI accident injury attorney today.

The DUI accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas and Associates know just how devastating a DUI accident injury can be to a victim and its toll on a victim’s family. The compassionate attorneys at Samer Habbas and Associates will sit down with you and discuss your options in filing a personal injury claim against the drunk driver who hit you.

Call 888-848-5084 to talk to an expert Riverside DUI accident injury lawyer about your case or fill out our free consultation form.