Ontario Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
Driving while drunk or impaired by alcohol is a glaring example of driver recklessness. This is a crime in California that can cause car accidents, severe injuries and deaths. The lawyers at Rose, Klein & Marias, LLP are passionate about holding drunk drivers accountable for their actions.
If you or a loved one was injured in a drunk driving car accident in Ontario, California, contact our law firm for a free case consultation. Our Ontario drunk driving accident attorney can help you take legal action, seek justice and pursue maximum financial compensation.
Why Hire Our Ontario Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer?
- Our car accident lawyers in Ontario have been holding drunk drivers responsible for automobile collisions in California for almost 90 years.
- We always put our clients first. We are highly responsive to our clients and will answer your phone call within 24 hours.
- We are dedicated to obtaining the best possible case results. Our success stories include a $3.9 million truck accident settlement and a $3.125 million pedestrian accident settlement.
- Your Ontario personal injury lawyer will operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t pay anything in attorney’s fees unless you win your drunk driving accident case.
Why You Need to Hire an Attorney for a Drunk Driving Accident Case in Ontario
Drunk driving car accidents in Ontario can inflict severe to catastrophic injuries on victims. If you are dealing with life-altering injuries, it can be difficult to also handle a car insurance claim. Hiring an attorney allows you to rest and focus on healing from your injuries while your lawyer deals with an insurance adjuster on your behalf.
Your attorney can take over communications with an insurance company to seek a fair settlement from the drunk driver’s auto insurance policy. If necessary, your attorney can take your case to court. The right drunk driving accident lawyer will navigate California’s car accident and driving under the influence (DUI) laws efficiently to improve the outcome of your case.
What Are California’s Drunk Driving Laws?
In California, it is against the law to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level at or above 0.08 percent. For commercial drivers, the limit is reduced to 0.04 percent. In addition, California is a Zero Tolerance state for underage drinking; any driver under the age of 21 who is caught drinking and driving can face a DUI, even with a BAC of 0.01 percent.
Drunk driving laws are in place to prevent this extremely dangerous driver behavior. Driving while impaired is a significant crash risk, as it affects a driver’s reflexes, focus, judgment and reaction time. Drunk drivers are more likely to engage in reckless and dangerous activities, such as speeding, racing, tailgating, making unsafe lane changes and running red lights.
If a motor vehicle driver is convicted of driving under the influence in Ontario, he or she can face consequences such as jail time, driver’s license suspension, fines and an ignition interlock device. Drunk drivers can also face civil penalties and repercussions for causing motor vehicle accidents, such as having to pay the victim compensation.
Common Injuries Suffered in Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk driving accidents are often catastrophic, meaning they inflict a high level of injury or harm on those involved. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, 1,370 people in California were killed in alcohol-involved crashes in 2021. This was a 16 percent increase from 2020. Alcohol-involved deaths accounted for nearly a third of all traffic fatalities in California in 2021.
Injuries often suffered in drunk driving car accidents include:
- Amputations
- Brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Burn injuries
- Facial injuries
- Herniated disks
- Internal injuries
- Lacerations and scarring
- Muscle sprains and strains
- Paralysis
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash
Drunk driving accident victims may never be the same again. They may suffer long-term or permanent disabilities, ongoing medical needs, and lost wages from the inability to work. The physical and emotional trauma these car crashes inflict can last forever. At Rose, Klein & Marias, LLP our attorneys are committed to helping clients with serious injuries achieve justice.
Who Pays for a Drunk Driving Car Accident in Ontario?
California is a fault state, meaning that the person at fault for causing a car accident is responsible for paying for the damage caused by the crash. While the obvious liable party or defendant in most drunk driving cases is the at-fault driver who was intoxicated, other options may also be possible.
California has a “dram shop law” that can place legal responsibility for an automobile accident on the vendor or social host that provided the alcohol to the drunk driver. If the furnisher of the alcohol should have known that the driver was already obviously intoxicated or underage, this party could be held accountable for an accident the driver causes.
It may be possible to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s car insurance policy and a dram shop or social host. Holding multiple parties liable can maximize your financial recovery by allowing you to receive coverage from more than one insurance policy. An attorney from Rose, Klein & Marias, LLP can help you prove fault and establish your claim using clear evidence.
Types of Financial Compensation Available
Successfully holding one or more parties responsible for your drunk driving accident in Ontario could result in financial compensation for various losses caused by the collision.
Examples include:
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Wage loss
- Any future income loss caused by a long-term disability
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death damages
- Punitive damages
To discuss the available damages and potential value of your specific drunk driving accident case, contact our attorneys.
Compensation for the Death of a Loved One in a Fatal Drunk Driving Accident in Ontario
Sadly, many people die in drunk driving accidents in California each year. Our injury lawyers can represent your family in an Ontario wrongful death case if you tragically lose a family member in a fatal alcohol-involved car crash.
We can pursue fair financial compensation for the surviving family members of the victim in a wrongful death action. Successful wrongful death cases can lead to a financial recovery for funeral and burial expenses, lost inheritance, grief and anguish, and other damages.
Contact Our Ontario Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Today for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one was recently involved in a motor vehicle collision with a drunk or drugged driver in Ontario or the surrounding area, do not hesitate to contact us for legal advice and assistance. The law offices of Rose, Klein & Marias, LLP offer a free case evaluation, where we will help you understand your legal rights and options. Call (800) 362-7427 today or use our online contact form to request your free case review.