When a person gets behind the wheel while intoxicated, they put themselves and others on the road at risk. Drunk driving often results in serious accidents that can leave victims facing severe injuries. If you were in a wreck caused by a drunk driver, you could be entitled to financial compensation. A drunk driving accident lawyer from Indiana law firm, Vaughan & Vaughan can fight for you.
For over 100 years, our Lafayette car accident lawyers have been helping accident victims recover the compensation they need to rebuild their lives after an accident. Find out more about how we can help you get the money you need for your damages by giving us a call or filling out our online contact form. We offer free consultations, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.
Lafayette Indiana Statue of Limitations for Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuits
In most cases, the Indiana personal injury statute of limitations permits drunk driving accident victims to file a lawsuit against the liable party up to two years after the date of their accident. If you fail to submit all of the required paperwork within this period, you will most likely lose your options for recovering compensation. Consulting with a Lafayette Personal Injury Lawyer can provide you with the guidance and legal expertise necessary to ensure you meet all the required deadlines and protect your right to seek compensation.
While the statute of limitations is generally quite strict, it is not without exceptions. The particular details of your case could potentially allow you to file a lawsuit even if the standard deadline has passed. In some cases, you could even file years later.
Of course, an exception to the statute of limitations can also have the opposite effect. You could find that rather than two years, you are restricted to a matter of months for filing your lawsuit against the at-fault party. The best way to protect your right to pursue compensation is by hiring an experienced drunk driving accident lawyer shortly after your collision.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
Actions a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Will Take on Your Behalf
After you hire a drunk driving accident lawyer, there are several steps they will take to get you the compensation you require. The first thing your attorney will likely do is begin an investigation into your accident. They aim to prove who is liable for your damages and collect evidence to support your compensation claim.
After completing their investigation, your lawyer will evaluate the losses you have endured and calculate the full value of your injury claim. The next step will be to either file an insurance claim with the liable party’s insurer or submit a lawsuit against them to the court.
If you choose to sue, your attorney will then go through all the steps of the pretrial process. Once this is done, they will represent you at trial if necessary. Throughout the entire process, your attorney will be in conversation with opposing counsel, attempting to negotiate a settlement deal that will get you paid quicker so you can move on with your life.
There is no fee
unless you win
Proving Fault for a Drunk Driving Accident
You won’t be able to pursue compensation until you first establish who is to blame for your accident. In accident cases involving a drunk driver, proving fault is often simpler than in the average accident case. However, your case might prove to be a bit more complex, making determining fault more of a challenge.
Fortunately, an experienced Lafayette drunk driving accident attorney can help you prove who is to blame. Your lawyer will know exactly what to look for when investigating your case to prove liability. When facing such complex situations, having the guidance of an Indiana Personal Injury Lawyer can make all the difference in your pursuit of justice and compensation.
Recoverable Damages You May Be Able to Claim After a Drunk Driving Accident
If you were injured in a drunk driving accident, there are likely several different types of damages you will be able to claim. In order to recover the full value of your claim, it is critical to identify all the specific damages you are eligible to pursue.
Fortunately, an experienced drunk driving accident attorney in Lafayette can help. Your lawyer will be able to figure out all of the damages you qualify to pursue to maximize the compensation you receive. All recoverable damages are split between three primary categories.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover any losses you sustained which hurt you financially. Because there is a monetary figure attached to these losses, they are easy to quantify. Some of the economic damages most commonly claimed include:
- Property damage
- Money spent to complete daily tasks that your injuries prevent you from performing yourself
- Lost income
- Lowered earning ability
- Medical bills
- Future medical costs
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages cover all of the rest of your losses. Because of the fact that these losses are so varied and are not monetary in nature, evaluating non-economic damages can be complicated. Some of the non-economic damages most commonly claimed include:
- Permanent disability
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of companionship
Punitive Damages
While the compensatory damages discussed above focus on the losses endured by the accident victim, punitive damages are more concerned with the actions taken by the at-fault party. While not commonly awarded in most accident cases, punitive damages frequently apply when the at-fault party was driving under the influence.
Punitive damages are restricted to cases where the at-fault party was either criminally negligent or acted with the intention of causing harm.
Contact a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Lafayette Today
When attempting to collect compensation after a drunk driving accident, it is critical that you find the right lawyer. You need to choose an attorney who has handled cases similar to yours and has a proven track record of securing sizable paydays for their clients.
At Vaughan & Vaughan, we are ready to help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our drunk driving accident lawyers in Lafayette.
