Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Binghamton, NY

Binghamton Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been hurt in an accident involving a drunk driver, you need to act fast to preserve your right to compensation. An aggressive Binghamton car crash lawyer can help you hold the drunk driver accountable and demand the money you need to recover.

To learn more about your legal options, contact drunk driving accident attorney Scott C. Gottlieb today for a free consultation.

How Our DUI Accident Lawyer in Binghamton Can Help You

Here are a few ways that our Driving Under the Influence Accident attorneys can take the pressure off you after a serious crash:

• Handling all communication with the other driver and the insurance companies. You need to be very careful about what you say to the insurance company after a crash. The best way to make sure you don’t say something that hurts your claim is to have a Binghamton car crash lawyer handle all communication on your behalf.
• Investigating your crash. Our team can track down eyewitnesses, review photo or video evidence of the crash, obtain police accident reports, hire expert witnesses to testify on your behalf, and take other steps to build a strong case for compensation.
• Demanding full and fair compensation for your losses. We will help you identify all the ways you have been affected by your injuries. This may include working with experts to understand future anticipated losses. Our goal is to ensure you are made financially whole again after the crash.

How Much Is My Case Worth?

The value of any personal injury claim after a DUI accident depends on the circumstances of the crash, how severe your injuries are, etc. Some of the losses you can be compensated for after an accident include:

• Medical bills (doctor’s visits, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, prescription drugs, etc.)
• The cost of future medical care
• The cost of renovating your house if your mobility is impacted as a result of your injuries
• Lost wages
• Reduced ability to earn money in the future, depending on the extent of your injuries
• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental and emotional anguish
• Lost financial or services to a family member

What Is the Legal BAC Limit In NY?

The legal limit at which a driver is presumed to be intoxicated in New York is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent. The limit is even less for Driving While Ability Impaired.

Effects of High Blood Alcohol Concentration

According to the CDC, a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can have a profound effect on his or her ability to drive. Here are some of the common effects:

0.02 Percent BAC

• • Lowered ability to rapidly track moving objects
  • May experience a decline in other vision functions as well
  • Inability to perform more than one task at a time

0.05 Percent BAC

• • Reduction in coordination abilities
  • Further reduction in the ability to keep track of moving objects
  • Problems with dexterity and steering
  • Slowed response in emergency situations

0.08 Percent BAC

• • Inability to concentrate
  • Loss of short-term memory
  • Incapable of adequate speed control
  • Trouble with signal detection
  • Visual search abilities reduced
  • Perception becomes impaired

0.10 Percent BAC

• • Reduced ability to brake properly
  • Trouble maintaining lane position

0.15 Percent BAC

• • Vehicle control is severely impaired

• Trouble keeping attention on task of driving

• • Difficulty processing visual and auditory information

In New York, the term DUI may be used colloquially to describe driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. However, “DUI” is not the only legal term in New York. The two types of charges a driver can face for driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol are Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI).

A person can be charged with DWI if he or she has a BAC level of 0.08 percent or higher. A driver may face a DWAI charge if found to have a BAC of 0.05 to 0.07 percent, or if there are drugs other than alcohol found in their body. Both DWI and DWAI are criminal charges that can result in serious penalties for offenders.

What Is the Difference Between a Civil Case and a Criminal Case Against a Drunk Driver?

Any criminal charges against a drunk driver will be decided and filed by police and local prosecutors. These charges may result in fines, jail time, the loss of a driver’s license, and other penalties. A civil case is separate from a criminal case. The civil lawsuit is a chance for an accident victim to pursue compensation for losses caused by the drunk driver’s negligent actions.

Drunk Driving Accident Statistics

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that drunk driving crashes claim more than 10,000 lives every year.
• In one recent year, drunk driving crashes caused around $44 billion in damages.
• In New York, a recent study from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee found that around 5,500 people were injured in drunk driving crashes every year over a five-year period.
• That same study from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee found that an average of about 250 people died every year in drug-related crashes.

Contact Our Drunk Driving Car Accident Attorney Today

Do not wait to get legal representation after being hurt in a Binghamton drunk-driving crash. The sooner you speak to an attorney, the quicker your car accident lawyer can begin gathering evidence for your claim. Contact Scott C. Gottlieb, Injury Law Attorney, now for a free consultation on your case.