Drunk driving puts thousands of drivers at risk every day.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately one person dies every 52 minutes in the United States in a drunk driving accident.
Approximately ⅓ of all traffic fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers. These fatality rates demonstrate why drinking and driving is dangerous.
These numbers persist even though every U.S. state imposes criminal penalties for those who drive under the influence.
Like any collision, a drunk driving accident can result in severe injuries along with thousands of dollars in property damage.
If this happened to you or a loved one, contact a personal injury lawyer at River Run Law today.
We help drunk driving accident victims pursue compensation for the harm they suffered as a result of a crash.
Common Drunk Driving Injuries
Any number of injuries can occur in a drunk driving accident. The severity of your injuries will play a role in calculating the damages you deserve.
If you suffer a severe injury, you might spend time in the hospital or undergo extensive physical therapy.
This type of injury will typically result in a larger settlement than a minor injury. Let’s take a look at some common drunk driving injuries.
Neck Injuries
Neck injuries like whiplash occur frequently in a DUI accident. With injuries like whiplash, it is critical to seek medical treatment to ensure your spinal cord is not injured.
In most cases, whiplash occurs when muscles and ligaments are stretched due to the sudden movement of the head and neck.
This happens in car accidents when a vehicle traveling at a moderate speed comes to a sudden stop.
Chest Injuries
Drunk driving injuries often involve injuries to a driver or passenger’s chest. Chest injuries often occur as a result of seat belts tightening upon impact.
If someone is wearing their seatbelt at the time of an accident, a chest injury is common.
Scrapes and Cuts
Many drunk driving accidents lead to scrapes and cuts. These injuries can come from broken glass, airbags, or miscellaneous objects within your vehicle.
While most of these injuries are relatively minor, some cuts can result in disfigurement or significant scarring.
If this occurs, you can likely claim additional damages for the long-term effects of the injury.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries represent a dangerous category of drunk driving injuries.
That is because internal injuries may not present themselves as obviously as external injuries.
You should always seek prompt medical treatment after a car accident to determine whether you suffered any internal injuries that may not show themselves right away.
Contact River Run Law Today to Discuss Common Drunk Driving Injuries
Navigating the civil court system after a drunk driving accident can create lots of unnecessary stress and confusion.
Your personal injury lawyer from River Run Law will handle every aspect of your legal case so you can focus on recovering from your drunk driving injuries.
We will handle the paperwork, negotiate with the insurance company, and take care of court filings.
Our team of personal injury attorneys at River Run Law values expertise over status and authenticity over insincerity.
Contact us today to begin your free consultation.
Brooke Alexander
Brooke graduated from the University of Richmond School of Law after receiving her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Brooke worked for five years in private practice with a law firm specializing in insurance defense litigation before becoming the trial litigator for Allstate Insurance Company in the metro Richmond area.
Rate this Post
Loading...