Elmira DWI Accident Attorneys
A drunk driving accident kills another person every fifty minutes in the United States and injures a person every minute. Driving while intoxicated is a serious problem throughout the country—one that does irreversible harm, depriving families of their loved ones and individuals of the ability to live life to the fullest. Drinking and driving is a blatantly negligent and wrongful act. Choosing to drink and get behind the wheel is not an accident; it is a decision a person makes that risks lives and health. If you have lost someone you love to a drunk driving accident or have suffered a severe and life-changing injury, your grief and anger probably feel overwhelming. It should never have happened. What do you do now?
Nothing can bring back the person who was killed, or, restore the health of someone who suffered a permanent injury because of a drunk driver. When you’re grieving over the loss of a life or the loss of your health, you may feel too overwhelmed by the changes you’re forced to deal with to embark on the necessary tasks to file a claim for compensation. But it is important to hold drunk drivers accountable for their actions. They need to be forced to face up to the terrible damage they have done and to be made an example of so anyone tempted to drink and drive will think twice about the potential consequences. You need an experienced DWI attorney on your side. The law office of Steve Proudfoot can help.
HOLDING WRONGDOERS ACCOUNTABLE
Driving while intoxicated is a crime, but you will not automatically be compensated for your losses because the driver is convicted of DWI. You will need to file a civil action to recover damages. For many victims and their families, it’s not about the money—it’s about accountability and deterring the defendant and others from driving drunk. To do this, you should hire an experienced personal injury and wrongful death attorney who will sue for damages on your behalf. When the person who caused the crash is convicted of DWI, your lawyer may sue for both compensatory damages, to cover your economic losses and physical and emotional pain and suffering, and additional compensation in the form of punitive damages, which are to punish particularly reprehensible behavior.
WHY YOU NEED A LAWYER
In any injury or wrongful death case, the at-fault driver’s insurance company hopes you will decide to negotiate a settlement with their adjuster, without retaining an attorney. Remember, the insurer’s representative has one goal in mind—paying out the least amount possible. Never give a written or recorded statement or sign anything unless your attorney instructs you to do so, or you may damage your case.
When you hire Steve Proudfoot to pursue compensation for you following a DWI crash, he will mobilize a team of investigators and accident reconstruction experts when needed to gather the evidence that the drunk driver caused the crash. He will also document both your economic and non-economic damages. If it is a wrongful death case, he will appoint a representative for the estate and individual claimants. And he’ll handle all negotiations with the insurance company.
Furthermore, New York places limits called statutes of limitations on the amount of time you have to file a civil action for damages. Your lawyer will know the filing deadlines imposed by state law and will ensure that you don’t lose your rights by missing one.
Protect your rights and hold drunk drivers accountable. Call Proudfoot Law today for a free consultation. You pay nothing until we win money for you.