Germantown Drunk Driver Accident Lawyer

When you leave in the morning for work or vacation, you do not expect to wind up in the hospital later that day. The same can be said if you go out for a night on the town. However, the time of day does not matter when it comes to drunk driving. Drunk drivers do not concern themselves with others when they get behind the wheel, so they will not care about the time of day when they drink. 

A Germantown personal injury lawyer from Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC will fight for your right to compensation when injured by a drunk driver.

Injuries You Can Suffer in a Germantown Drunk Driving Accident

A drunk driving accident is devastating for all involved, especially if you suffer a serious, life-threatening injury. Even if your injuries are minor in nature, you can still miss a lot of time at work, which will only make the situation worse. The extent of the injuries you suffer can lead to you no longer being able to work. Whatever the situation, a drunk driving accident lawyer in Germantown can make a world of difference in your case.

You can suffer any of the following injuries in a drunk driving accident at varying levels of seriousness:

• Head trauma
• Spinal trauma
• Damage to organs and internal bleeding
• Vision loss
• Amputation
• Paralysis
• Road rash
• Broken bones
• Torn muscles and ligaments

While this is not an exhaustive list of injuries, you can see that drunk driving accidents can change your life in an instant. The one injury not listed that is the most devastating is death. When you lose a loved one in a drunk driving crash, your life is forever changed. If this happens to your loved one, we can help pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault driver on your behalf. 

Drunk Driving Deaths Are Shocking

The number of drunk driving deaths across the country continues to remain steady instead of going into a decline. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that of all fatalities caused by traffic accidents, 29 percent are due to drunk driving crashes.

Filing a Wrongful Death Claim for the Loss of a Loved One in a Drunk Driving Accident

Should you suffer the loss of a loved one because of a drunk driving accident, you are within your rights to file a wrongful death claim. It is important that you act as quickly as possible when a loved one is killed in a drunk driving crash because Tennessee provides you with just a one-year filing period for your wrongful death claim.

Statute of Limitations for a Personal Injury Claim

The statute of limitations for a personal injury claim, which is what you would file if you suffer an injury in a drunk driving accident, is also just one year. Tennessee has the shortest statute of limitations in the United States for these claims. Be sure to consult a lawyer as soon as possible, or else you could miss the filing deadline and lose your right to compensation for your injuries.

Determining the Value of a Germantown Drunk Driving Claim

Every drunk driving accident is different from the last. Because of this, it can be difficult to pin down a value for your claim. Not every drunk driving claim will result in a multi-million dollar settlement. Some will end with a settlement of a couple hundred thousand dollars, while others might secure millions. It all depends on a variety of factors, including the following:

• The severity of your injuries
• How long your injuries are expected to last
• How much time you have missed at work
• How long you expect to be out of work
• The amount of medical expenses you have already incurred
• The amount of long-term medical care you are expected to undergo
• Rehabilitative costs
• Pain and suffering
• The actions of the drunk driver before, during, and after the crash

Proving Negligence After a Germantown Drunk Driving Crash

There are four parts to proving negligence following a Germantown drunk driving accident, and all four must be present in order for your claim to succeed.

1. A Duty of Care Was Present

The first part of proving negligence is you must show a duty of care was present in the situation. This means that the drunk driver had an obligation to operate their car safely in order to prevent injury to others.

2. The Duty of Care Was Breached

The second aspect of proving negligence is showing that the duty of care was breached by the drunk driver. For example, drinking alcohol at a bar excessively before getting into a car is negligent. The driver should have known that these actions could lead to a dangerous situation.

3. The Breach Led to Injuries

The third aspect of proving negligence is showing the court that you suffered injuries because of the breach by the drunk driver. 

4. Injuries Led to Compensable Losses

The fourth and final aspect of proving negligence is showing that you suffered compensable losses due to your injuries, which were caused by the drunk driver’s breach of the duty of care. Compensable losses can include anything that is financial or non-financial in nature.

Why a Drunk Driver Accident Attorney in Germantown Is Best for You When Injured by a Drunk Driver

Suffering an injury at the hands of another person is devastating. Now is not the time to try your hand at the law. Having a Germantown drunk driver accident lawyer represent you in a personal injury claim is the best course of action to take. 

A lawyer will handle all communication on your behalf with the defendant’s attorney and their insurance company, negotiate a settlement, secure evidence, speak to witnesses, and represent you in court should the case go to trial.

Injured by a Drunk Driver? Call a Germantown Drunk Driver Accident Attorney Today

If you or a loved one suffered an injury in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you deserve the strongest legal representation possible in Tennessee. The Germantown drunk driver accident lawyers at Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC work tirelessly to defend the rights of our clients injured in drunk driving accidents. 

Call our office, or complete our contact form to schedule a consultation with a lawyer today.