During the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period, the risk of drunk driving accidents increases. The holiday falls on March 17th, but the weekends before and after St. Patrick’s Day are also dangerous. While bars will be full of celebrators on the 17th, many people hold St. Patrick’s Day parties on the weekends.
Drunk driving accidents often result in catastrophic injuries. People who drive drunk tend to speed, swerve into other lanes, ignore traffic signs and fail to see pedestrians. They can cause head-on collisions, T-bone collisions and rollover accidents. Injury victims may suffer spinal cord injuries, amputations, broken bones, burns or traumatic brain injuries.
If you or a family member is injured by a drunk driver during the week of St. Patrick’s Day, speak with an attorney to find out how you can take action. Drunk drivers can be held accountable for injuring pedestrians, passengers and other drivers. You will likely need a lawyer’s help to obtain sufficient compensation to cover your medical bills and other losses.
In Alabama, you may receive additional compensation from punitive damages in drunk driving accident cases. The law allows punitive damages in cases involving people who act with reckless disregard for the safety of others. Drunk drivers may fall into this category.
In addition, dram shop laws apply in some drunk driving accident cases. If an establishment knowingly over-serves a drunk driver, you may be able to hold it liable for injuries the drunk driver causes. These types of cases are complex, however, so you will need an experienced attorney to protect your rights.
Talk to a lawyer about your drunk driving accident injuries and learn whether you may receive punitive damages and/or compensation from a dram shop case.
