Were you or a loved one injured in an accident involving a drunk driver in Pennsylvania? Our experienced Pennsylvania drunk driving accidents lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can help you fight for compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and your pain and suffering.
Our lawyers have decades of combined experience helping accident victims in Pennsylvania. We know what’s at stake–and we’ve already recovered tens of millions of dollars to help people like you.
We’re here to help you fight for the justice you deserve. Call our law offices in Pennsylvania at (717) 231-1640 to schedule a free consultation to learn more.
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How Marzzacco Niven & Associates Can Help After a Drunk Driving Accident in Pennsylvania
Despite drunk driving prevention efforts, alcohol-related accidents remain a serious problem. If a drunk driver hits you, you might think it would be easy to prove your right to compensation. That’s not always the case.
Insurance companies will fight your claim. Complex Pennsylvania insurance laws can also make it difficult to recover the fair compensation you deserve. Our experienced lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can protect you if the insurance company tries to deny or undervalue your injury claim.
Our Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers have over 120 years of combined experience. Our legal team includes lawyers who have been recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers of America, and the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40.
Hiring us means gaining an advocate to:
- Handle all insurance negotiations and paperwork
- Identify all parties who share responsibility for your crash
- Locate all evidence and sources of insurance compensation
- Calculate the value of your case and fight for the maximum amount possible
We aren’t afraid to fight for you at trial if the insurance company refuses to negotiate in good faith. Contact us for a free consultation to learn more about how our Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys can help you fight for justice.
How Common Are Drunk Driving Accidents in Pennsylvania?
It’s illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.08% or more. These DUI laws are in place for good reason. Even a small amount of alcohol can cause serious problems for a driver.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, about 28 people die in drunk driving accidents in the U.S. every day. In 2019, 10,142 drunk driving fatalities were reported nationwide. That’s a record low–but it is still more than three times the number of people killed in distracted driving accidents that same year.
Drinking and driving is a serious safety issue in Pennsylvania. Each year, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation publishes reports on traffic accident statistics in the Commonwealth.
In 2020, 104,475 motor vehicle accidents were reported statewide. Over 1,125 people were killed in those accidents. Around 25% of those traffic fatalities were alcohol-related. Almost 90% of all drunk driving deaths were occupants of the drunk driver’s vehicle.
Drunk Driving Statistics in Pennsylvania
The following statistics illustrate the dangers of drunk driving accidents in Pennsylvania:
- 21 alcohol-related car crashes happen each day
- 13 people are injured in drunk driving accidents every day
- 4,917 people were hurt in drunk driving accidents in 2020
- Drunk driving accidents are 4.3 times as likely to cause a fatal injury than non-alcohol-related crashes
It can also be helpful to know when drunk driving crashes are most likely to happen. According to PDOT data:
- 70% of all drunk driving accidents happen after dark
- 48% of alcohol-related crashes occur on Saturday and Sunday
- 29% of traffic fatalities that occurred on holidays were related to driving while intoxicated
Don’t let a drunk driver off the hook. Call our Pennsylvania DUI accident lawyers to learn more about your legal rights today.
What is My Pennsylvania Drunk Driving Accident Case Worth?
The drunk driver who caused your injuries may be facing criminal charges under Pennsylvania drunk driving laws. Still, you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries in civil court.
Working with an experienced lawyer is the best way to know how much your personal injury claim is worth. Multiple factors are relevant, including:
- The severity of your injuries
- Whether you’ll be able to work during recovery and in the future
- The circumstances of the crash
- Available insurance coverages
Even when a drunk driver is at fault, insurance companies will try to diminish the value of your case. We can help you fight back. Contact our law firm to schedule a free initial consultation today.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Drunk Driving Accident Victims?
Personal injury laws in Pennsylvania compensate victims for both economic damages and non-economic damages.
Your insurance policy will pay certain economic damages, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Reduced earning potential
- Rehabilitation
- Out-of-pocket expenses
If your injuries were severe, you might also be entitled to compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Loss of consortium
Drunk driving is a serious criminal offense. Sometimes, courts may award punitive damages to punish the drunk driver for causing serious harm.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Drunk Driving Accident in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania follows modified comparative negligence laws. You can recover damages if you’re less than 51% responsible for the accident.
It can be hard to imagine being blamed for an accident if the other driver was drunk. Still, it’s possible that your actions contributed to the crash. You can count on the insurance company to look for a reason to blame you.
Our lawyers would be happy to stand up for you. Just give us a quick call to learn more today.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Drunk Driving Accident Injuries
Thousands of Pennsylvania drivers are injured in DUI crashes every year. At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we’re here to fight for your right to fair compensation for all of your injuries.
Common drunk driving accident injuries include:
- Whiplash
- Concussions
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Internal injuries
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Someone else chose to drink and drive. You shouldn’t have to pay the price. When you’re ready to take legal action, call our experienced Pennsylvania car accident lawyers for a free case evaluation.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Drunk Driving Accident in Pennsylvania?
Negligence is a failure to exercise reasonable caution under the circumstances. Driving under the influence of alcohol is always unreasonable–and illegal. Regardless, to recover damages in civil court, you’ll have to prove negligence.
To successfully recover compensation for injuries caused by another party’s negligence, you have to establish:
- A legal duty of care
- Breach of duty
- The breach caused your accident
- You sustained damages
Sometimes police toxicology reports or an ignition interlock device are enough to prove the at-fault driver was intoxicated. Other times, you may need additional evidence to prove your case.
Signs that the other driver was impaired may include:
- Weaving between lanes
- Driving at an unusually slow speed
- Delayed reaction time
You may be entitled to damages even if the other driver isn’t convicted on DUI charges because the standard of proof is lower in a civil case.
Negligence Per Se
If the at-fault driver is convicted for alcohol-impaired driving, that can help your case. A DUI conviction can help you prove the drunk driver was “negligent per se.”
Negligence per se is a legal theory that applies when someone violates a safety law and injures another person. You can prove negligence per se by showing:
- The at-fault driver violated Pennsylvania DUI laws
- DUI laws are meant to prevent the type of harm you suffered
- The DUI laws were intended to protect you
Drunk driving laws are designed to prevent DUI accidents and injuries. That doesn’t always mean it’ll be easy to prove drunk driving caused your accident in court.
Our experienced Pennsylvania drunk driving accident attorneys at Marzzacco Niven & Associates are here to help. Just give us a call for a free case review today.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Drunk Driving Accident in Pennsylvania?
Car accident victims have two years to file a lawsuit under the Pennsylvania statute of limitations. Once that two-year period expires, you forfeit your right to damages.
However, in drunk driving cases, the two-year period is often paused while the drunk driver is facing criminal charges.
Call a Pennsylvania Drunk Driving Accidents Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today
There’s no excuse for drunk driving. Still, DUI accidents remain a serious threat across Pennsylvania. If you or a loved one were injured by a drunk driver and need a car accident lawyer in Harrisburg, Wyomissing, York, Carbondale, Carlisle, Chambersburg, Lancaster or Lebanon, contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates and get a free consultation with an experienced Pennsylvania drunk driving accidents lawyer today.
Marzzacco Niven & Associates understands just how complex these cases can be and is prepared to help you get the money you deserve. Call our car accident attorneys in Lancaster for a free consultation.