Despite the existence of taxi cabs, various ride-sharing apps and campaigns that highlight the dangers of driving while impaired, people in West Virginia continue to get behind the wheel after having too much to drink. These individuals put you and everyone else on the road at serious risk for suffering injuries in an accident. Drunk driving wrecks are often serious or even fatal, leaving victims and/or their families in difficult situations.
Car accidents are serious enough as it is, but add an intoxicated driver in the mix and you have a potentially deadly combination. These drivers tend to act recklessly and may travel at high rates of speed or fail to apply their brakes before impact, which can lead to severe injuries. You might already be familiar with some of these common injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Lacerations
- Broken and fractured bones
- Internal injuries or bleeding
Even if you have health insurance, seeking medical care for these injuries can be time-consuming and expensive. Successfully documenting another driver’s negligence during a personal injury or even wrongful death claim is often key to achieving just compensation. In many cases, obtaining the results of chemical testing performed by police is adequate for proving negligence. This could be either the results of Breathalyzer test or a blood draw that show the driver’s blood-alcohol content.
Personal injury claims are an important tool for West Virginia victims who need financial support to overcome their injuries and get back on their feet. There are also options for families who have lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident. Successfully pursued wrongful death claims can help surviving family members address the often steep costs of unexpected funeral expenses and other related damages.
