Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC helps people in Louisville when they’re injured in a car accident. For all the different causes of car accidents here, one that comes up over and over is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Virtually everybody understands why this is dangerous, yet it happens far too often. We can help you and your family through the aftermath. Set up a free consultation today.
Why a Lawyer Makes Sense After a DUI Accident
A car accident is never easy to deal with. When the other driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, everything tends to feel more overwhelming. That’s due to the fact that speeds are greater, collisions are harder, and injuries are worse in these types of car accidents.
So while you don’t need to get a lawyer for every case, it really makes sense when a DUI is involved. Our Louisville car accident team can help you by:
- Looking into how the accident actually happened and what led up to it
- Collecting police reports and confirming whether impairment played a role
- Gathering your medical records and making sure everything is documented properly
- Dealing directly with insurance adjusters so you don’t have to
- Pushing back if the insurance company tries to downplay your injuries
- Moving the claim forward or filing a lawsuit if that becomes necessary
When you’re already dealing with the fallout of a car accident, you don’t also have to try to also deal with the legal side of things—answering endless questions from adjusters, providing the same documentation, and trying to get a fair offer. Our team can take all that on for you, giving you the space to focus on getting better.
What You Should Look For Right After a DUI Accident
Even though a DUI accident is extremely disorienting, it’s still a car accident. That gives you a better idea of what to look for. But you also have to think about the other driver. In the moments after, you’re probably not going to know that they’re impaired. However, once you start talking to them, that will become more apparent—if they stay at the scene at all.
It’s important not to confront them or accuse them of anything. Instead, focus on getting medical help and gathering information like:
- Pictures or videos of the vehicles, road conditions, traffic signals, and visible injuries
- Names and contact information for witnesses
- The other driver’s license and insurance information, if you feel comfortable asking for it
That covers a lot of what you’ll need, but the DUI component brings other things you should do, like:
- Calling 911 and reporting the accident so police and ambulance crews can respond
- Letting police handle interactions with the other driver
- Allowing EMTs to examine you and accept medical treatment if it’s recommended
Getting as much information as possible at the scene—and keeping track of your medical records and everything else you gather afterward—can make the claims process much easier.
What Your Legal Options Look Like After a DUI Accident in Louisville
There’s two things that happen legally when there’s a car accident caused by someone driving under the influence in Louisville. The first is the criminal case handled by the state. The driver may face fines, license suspension, mandatory treatment programs, or even jail time depending on the circumstances.
The other—and from your perspective as the person that was hurt in the accident, often more important—part of the process is your civil case. This is where you hold the driver (and anyone else that played a part in what happened) financially responsible for what you’ve lost. To get this financial help, you generally have two options:
- Filing an insurance claim and trying to resolve the case through an out-of-court settlement. This is often the first step in the claims process.
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit in court. This usually happens after you get a settlement offer from the insurance company, but it doesn’t meet your needs.
An insurance settlement is going to based on the individual policy, while a lawsuit gives you the ability to get fuller “damages” like:
- Medical expenses, including emergency care, follow-up visits, rehabilitation, and future treatment costs
- Lost wages if you had to miss work
- Reduced future earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work long term
- Property damage, including repairs or replacement of your vehicle
- Pain and suffering related to your physical injuries
- Emotional distress, including anxiety, stress, or difficulty returning to everyday life
- Loss of enjoyment of life if your injuries prevent you from doing the things you normally enjoy
Unfortunately, DUI accidents can also turn fatal. In those situations, surviving family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim to recover funeral expenses, lost financial support, and other damages. No matter what option you go with, keep in mind that you have two years from the date of the accident to file. Miss that, and you can’t get damages at all.
Legal Responsibility for DUI Accidents in Louisville
Driving under the influence is one of the clearest examples of negligence under Kentucky law. But legal responsibility doesn’t always stop with the impaired driver. Depending on what happened, other parties may share liability, including:
- Vehicle owners who knowingly let an intoxicated person drive their car
- Bars, restaurants, or social hosts in certain situations
- Other drivers who contributed to the crash
- Vehicle or parts manufacturers
- Government agencies responsible for unsafe road conditions
Like any car accident case, it ultimately comes down to the details—where it happened, how it happened, and who played a role in what happened.
How DUI Accidents Unfold in Louisville
Since they all happen for the same basic reason, it’s often easy to spot the patterns that come with DUI accidents in Louisville. Here’s a look at how they usually unfold:
- Rear-end collisions are among the most common kinds of DUI accidents. You slow down with traffic, but the impaired driver doesn’t react in time. This often happens on busy stretches of roads like Interstate 64, Interstate 65, or the Gene Snyder Freeway.
- Head-on collisions are usually more severe. These happen when a driver crosses the center line or enters the wrong lane, leaving little time for anyone to react. Impaired drivers frequently drive the wrong way on interstates and highways.
- T-bone accidents frequently happen at intersections when a driver runs a red light or rolls through a stop sign without seeing what’s happening around them.
- Rollovers can happen when someone is driving too fast, overcorrects, or loses control of their vehicle.
- Pedestrian accidents are another serious concern, especially in areas with heavy foot traffic like downtown Louisville, entertainment districts, and neighborhoods.
- Bicycle accidents happen for similar reasons. An impaired driver may not see someone riding, misjudge distance between them and the rider, or fail to react to the rider in time.
When you look at these accidents together, the pattern is usually the same: it’s not the road that’s unpredictable—it’s the driver’s impaired ability to react and respond in a safe way.
Kaufman & Stigger Can Help After a DUI Car Accident in Louisville
Driving under the influence remains one of the leading causes of serious car accidents in Louisville, but that doesn’t change what you and your family are left dealing with when you’re the ones who get hurt.
That’s where our team of Louisville DUI accident lawyers at Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC can help. We’ll explain your options, answer your questions, and help you understand what the road ahead may look like. Set up a free consultation today to get started.
