Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers
Omaha car accident attorneys dedicated to your right to compensation
Drinking and driving is illegal in Nebraska. That's why driving while intoxicated can easily result in a ticket, fine, or jail time. When operators choose to get behind the wheel drunk, they put people's lives at risk and often cause car accidents that regularly result in serious injuries or even fatalities.
At Ausman Law Firm P.C., L.L.O., our Omaha drunk driving accident attorneys represent people injured in such serious accidents throughout Nebraska. Your crash likely cost you financially, physically, and emotionally. We help you get the compensation you deserve, whether it’s a settlement from an insurance claim or, if necessary, a jury verdict.
Drunk driving accidents are often serious because of many other factors. Speeding or distracted driving can make DUI accidents worse. Other times, drunk drivers run a red light or fall asleep at the wheel. Were you rear-ended by a drunk driver? Did an impaired driver T-bone your car at an intersection? Whatever the circumstances of your crash, we want to help you demand justice.
You should know that, in general, car insurance covers drunk driving accidents. You have a right to file an injury claim as soon as you can, regardless of whether the negligent driver is ever charged with a crime.
Driving under the influence is illegal
If a driver is found to have a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) above the legal limit of .08 percent in Nebraska, they can be charged with driving under the influence. The limit goes down to 0.04 percent if driving a commercial vehicle, and 0.02 percent if under 21 years of age. Drunk driving is something Nebraska takes very seriously and comes with the risk of criminal penalties. Other substances, such as marijuana, stimulants and opioids can severely limit a drivers' ability to operate a vehicle safely.
In some cases, the owner of a bar or restaurant may be held liable if they continued to serve alcohol to an already inebriated customer who caused your accident. If you were hit by a drunk driver, you deserve compensation for your losses. Our Omaha drunk driving accident lawyers have years of experience representing and recovering compensation for victims of drunk driving accidents.
Drunk driving accident injuries can be fatal
When driving under the influence of alcohol, motor skills can be heavily impaired. The ability to judge distances between cars, reaction times and general comprehension is slowed. This means that a drunk driver could easily lose control of their vehicle or have a lapse in judgment, and cause an accident. Due to poor judgment or lack of control, these accidents can occur at high speeds and result in catastrophic injuries. Common injuries in drunk driving accidents include:
- Whiplash (type of neck injury)
- Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Fractures
- Nerve damage
- Chronic pain and mobility issues from the accident
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Severe blunt force trauma
Any accident can put someone's life in danger, but those involving drunk driving have very high rates of critical injuries and fatalities. If you were injured in an accident caused by drunk driving, you need reliable representation that can fight for your rights to justice.
Can you sue a drunk driver for hitting you?
In Nebraska, you can sue a drunk driver for compensation of accident-related medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and other damages. However, just because you think they were driving under the influence doesn’t mean your case is a slam dunk. You still need evidence to prove that their negligence caused your injuries.
Our law firm conducts thorough investigations of drunk driving accidents. We collect evidence and calculate the true cost of your injuries today and in the future. We negotiate aggressively with the insurance company to get clients the substantial results they deserve. If you deserve more compensation than the drunk driver’s insurance company will pay, we won’t hesitate to file a lawsuit.
That’s usually how things go, but some scenarios are more complicated.
- Semi-truck drunk driver accident – When you are in a commercial vehicle drunk driving accident, there are many more people and entities involved that may be at fault in addition to the trucker. This includes parties like the trucking company and the warehouse that loaded the cargo. Identifying these people and holding them liable for your injuries takes great legal skill. Some companies will go to extreme lengths to avoid taking financial responsibility.
- Minor drunk driver accident – Nebraska dram shop laws say that if a minor gets behind the wheel of a vehicle, drives drunk, and injures or kills someone else, the retailer that sold alcohol to the youth may be held liable.
- Drunk driver with no insurance – If the drunk driver that hit you does not have insurance, then you have the legal right to file a civil lawsuit against them. This isn’t always a practical idea, though, because people who do not have insurance often lack assets, too. Even if you win, if the person doesn’t have money or property, you won’t be able to recover much. In this situation, you may have a case against the owner of the vehicle or another liable person, or an uninsured/underinsured motorist claim with your own insurance company. Our lawyers can press for the answers you need and demand maximum compensation.
Contact a law firm that understands your struggles and your rights
Drunk driving accidents are serious incidents. They often result in a host of damages, ranging from personal property to medical expenses and lost wages from missing work. Many seriously injured drunk driving accident victims don’t know what to do after the crash. We can help you find the right path forward. Our firm's attorneys are dedicated to fighting tirelessly for our clients' rights. Contact us today for a free consultation.