Drunk Driving Car Accidents

Contact a Pawtucket Accident Lawyer If You Were Hit by a Drunk Driver

Almost half of all drunk driving crashes in Rhode Island result in a fatality. It goes without saying that driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol is extremely dangerous and places everyone on the road in danger. Unfortunately, DUI crashes happen all too frequently in Pawtucket, RI, including the high-profile deadly crash on Walcott Street that left three young woman dead at the hands of a drunk driver in 2017.  If you have been injured in a car accident involving a reckless drunk driver, call trusted Pawtucket Drunk Driving Accident Attorney David Tapalian to help you recover your losses from the crash. Attorney Tapalian understands the lasting emotional and physical impact that a DUI accident can have on your life and will do whatever it takes to help you get justice.

With a busy downtown nightlife in the city, on any given evening there are a number of bars and pubs filled with locals. However, when these patrons decide to drive after a few drinks, the results can be catastrophic, especially because of highways like I-95 that feed in and out of the city. Interstate 95 is a common site for Pawtucket drunk driving accidents, as are Benefit Street and Newport Ave.

How Can I File a DUI Accident Claim?

If you are injured in an auto accident involving a drunk driver, consult an experienced personal injury attorney who is highly knowledgeable of Rhode Island drunk driving laws. Drunk driving is a serious crime in which the impaired driver can face criminal charges, as well as civil charges. According to R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-27-2 Driving Under Influence of Liquor or Drugs, any motor vehicle operated by a person with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than .08% is in violation of the law. This means that if the drunk driver is liable for an accident that causes serious injury, not only can the driver face criminal penalties, but they may also be subject to a civil lawsuit by the injured victims.  

In addition to compensatory damages, a victim may also be entitled to recover punitive damages in Rhode Island.  R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-2 Civil Liability for Crimes and Offense, permits any person who shall suffer injury because of the commission of a crime of another to recover his or her damages for twice the value thereof.  It shall be no defense to such action that no criminal complaint for the crime or offense has been made.  In Rhode Island, punitive damages are warranted when a defendant’s conduct requires deterrence and punishment over and above that provided in an award of compensatory damages. 

With the assistance of Pawtucket Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer David Tapalian, you will have the greatest chance for the maximum amount of monetary recovery from the person that caused your injuries.  Upon a determination of negligence, Attorney Tapalian will help you receive compensation for your injuries which include, but are not limited to, lost wages, hospital fees, medical costs, and pain and suffering.  Our skilled personal injury team will obtain police reports, collect strong witness statements, and gather the evidence necessary to win your Pawtucket drunk driving accident claim. With Tapalian Law, you can focus on recovery while we handle the legal complexities of your accident caused by an impaired motorist.

Rhode Island Liquor Liability Act

The goal of the Liquor Liability Act in RI is to prevent intoxication-related injuries and death. Often referred to as the RI Dram Shop Law and RI Social Host Liability, this means that a business or person who negligently or recklessly served alcohol to the driver who caused the crash, may be held partially liable for the incident. These laws may come into play in a Pawtucket drunk driving crash if, for example, a restaurant is found to have kept negligently, or recklessly, serving alcohol to a clearly intoxicated patron before he got into his vehicle and caused the accident that hurt you. 

The Rhode Island liquor laws were established to provide a legal framework for obtaining compensation for those who suffered damages as the result of an alcohol related accident, to allocate liability for damages among those responsible, as well as to encourage servers of alcohol to exercise responsibility. An experienced Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Pawtucket will be able to determine if the Liquor Liability Act factors into your RI drunk driving accident and if so, how to hold the responsible parties liable for your injuries.

Contact a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Pawtucket, RI

Attorney David Tapalian has over two decades of experience dealing with personal injury cases including drunk driving crashes in Pawtucket and all over Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  Conveniently located at 350 S. Main St. in Providence, RI, Tapalian Law is minutes from Pawtucket.  Tapalian Law offers a free consultation and our dedicated team of legal experts will help create a customized plan to strengthen your injury claim and guide you through the steps to receive the compensation you deserve. We offer a free assessment of your personal injury case at our Providence office, and if you are unable to travel to the office due to injuries sustained in the accident, our legal experts can visit you in your home or at the hospital.  As with all types of auto accidents in Rhode Island, there is a 3-year statute of limitations on filing a DUI accident claim, and the longer you wait, the harder it will become to receive compensation for your losses. Call Tapalian Law today at 401-552-5000 or contact us online to set up a free consultation.