Drunk Driving Car Accidents

East Providence is an attractive place to live and a popular destination for tourists. However, the risk of being involved in a drunk driving accident is never far away. Fatal accidents involving drunk drivers have occurred on State Route 103, State Route 114, and Waterman Avenue over the last decade. Knowledgeable East Providence drunk driving accident lawyer David Tapalian provides reliable legal representation to accident victims throughout Rhode Island. Our team is ready to assist you with seeking justice after a reckless and intoxicated driver caused you harm.

Although a drunk driver faces criminal penalties for driving while intoxicated, any people who are injured in a collision also can bring a civil action against the drunk driver to recover compensation. In the lawsuit, you must show that the defendant failed to use reasonable care and skill when operating the motor vehicle. This standard includes any applicable traffic laws, such as Rhode Island’s strict prohibition against driving with a blood alcohol content in excess of the legal limit, which is 0.08% for individuals ages 21 and over. Truck drivers and teens are held to a stricter standard, which prohibits them from driving if they have a blood alcohol content of 0.02% or more. One of the simplest ways to show that the defendant was driving while intoxicated is to obtain a copy of the police report that was prepared regarding the incident. If the plaintiff can establish that the defendant was driving under the influence, they will be able to show that the defendant was negligent at the time that the crash occurred.

Establishing negligence is not the last step of the lawsuit. Next, a drunk driving accident attorney must help East Providence victims try to prove that the defendant’s intoxicated driving was the cause of their injuries. Drunk driving accidents can result in some of the most catastrophic injuries, since they often occur at excessive speeds, on the highway, or in head-on collisions. Rhode Island has also adopted a dram shop law, which allows victims to hold liquor establishments responsible for serving intoxicated drivers and for allowing them to drive away from the premises while intoxicated. Investigating whether the defendant was overserved at a restaurant, bar, hotel, or other business may be a vital aspect of demonstrating causation and receiving the full amount of compensation that you deserve.

The final phase of the lawsuit will involve providing documentation to support the amount of money that you have claimed in the litigation. A plaintiff may be entitled to recover a host of damages, including medical expenses, missed wages, and other damages associated with future medical care needs and reduced earning capacity.

In the unfortunate event that an accident results in a fatality, Rhode Island allows certain surviving relatives to bring a wrongful death action against the drunk driver. In this action, the surviving heirs can recover compensation for funeral and burial expenses, as well as compensation for the loss of their loved one’s companionship, society, and support, among other things. Damages will be calculated according to a variety of factors, including the age and life expectancy of the decedent and whether they left any minor dependent children behind.

Drunk driving accidents are far too common and have resulted in many life-changing injuries and avoidable fatalities. Although nothing can truly make your family or you whole again after an accident, receiving compensation to assist you with your medical expenses and other related financial matters can alleviate some of the stress and confusion that result from the accident. At Tapalian Law, we have provided reliable and comprehensive legal counsel to victims throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. East Providence drunk driving accident attorney David Tapalian takes pride in ensuring that each client receives the timely, personalized, and vigorous legal counsel that they deserve. To schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer, call us at 401-552-5000 or contact us online to set up your appointment.