Monaca Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Monaca, PA

Getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol is one of the most dangerous decisions a person can make. Victims of drunk driving car accidents know all too well the impact one person’s choice can have on people around them. If you are in the Monaca area and you or a loved one has suffered because of a drunk driver, you could benefit from representation by a Monaca drunk driving accident lawyer. They can work to get you the settlement you deserve.

About Bowers Fawcett & Hurst, LLC – Advocates for Monaca Personal Injury Victims

In a perfect world, we would only have to deal with the consequences of our own actions. 

The reality is that the negligence or poor choices of one person sometimes result in serious impacts on others. At Bowers Fawcett & Hurst, LLC, we advocate for victims of personal injury incidents, including drunk driving accidents. We can pursue the compensation they need to rebuild their lives. 

For each drunk driving accident case we take on, our attorneys bring their combined experience of over 45 years and employ a team approach. We want our clients to know that we see them, we hear them, and we work tirelessly to seek satisfactory outcomes. 

Drunk Driving in Monaca and Pennsylvania

Wherever there are vehicles, there are likely drunk drivers, too. Although Monaca is a small town of just around 5,500 people, it is part of the larger Pittsburgh metropolitan area, so it is not immune to big city problems. In Pennsylvania, drunk driving contributes to about 30% of all car accident fatalities. In 2023 alone, over 40,000 drunk driving arrests were made in the state. 

What to Do If You Are Hit by a Drunk Driver

If you are involved in an accident with a drunk driver, you can take several steps to protect yourself and collect information that can help you later. Of course, the first thing you should do after any car accident is call the Monaca Police Department, if you can, and seek medical attention. If you are in stable enough condition, you should also attempt to get insurance information from the other driver and the names and contact information from anyone who witnessed the crash. 

The next critical step is to hire a drunk driving accident lawyer. If the other driver was insured, as they should be, you should expect to receive some kind of settlement offer from their insurance company. However, insurance companies generally do whatever they can to pay as little as possible in claims, so whatever compensation they offer is unlikely to cover all your damages. That is where an experienced Monaca drunk driving accident attorney can help. 

Sometimes, all it takes is a strongly worded letter with a lawyer’s name on it to make insurance companies do the right thing. Other times, they still deny or underpay claims. If that happens, your attorney can file a claim against the insurance company or the other driver personally. Should the case go all the way to trial, your lawyer can represent you in the courtroom, too.

What Compensation Can Drunk Driving Accident Victims Recover?  

Drunk driving accident victims can generally be compensated for any damages they incur from the incident. A fair settlement should take care of medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering or mental trauma. The following describes what is generally included in these categories: 

• Medical bills. Compensation for a drunk driving victim should cover immediate medical care as well as any ongoing medical expenses, such as physical therapy, medication, or adaptive equipment. 
• Lost wages. Being injured in a drunk driving incident may mean missing a lot of work. Depending on the extent of the injuries, some victims may even permanently lose their ability to do their jobs, meaning financial uncertainty for their families. Compensation should take care of lost pay, both current and anticipated. 
• Pain and suffering. Pain and suffering compensation is a standard aspect of personal injury settlements. This accounts for the injury-related pain as well as psychological trauma resulting from the incident.

FAQs

What Constitutes Drunk Driving in Pennsylvania? 

In Pennsylvania, anyone driving a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, of 0.08% or higher can be charged with driving under the influence, called a DUI. Drunk driving accident laws in Pennsylvania establish three levels of DUI, categorized by BAC level. The lowest level is defined by a BAC from 0.08 to 0.099%, the second level is a BAC from 0.10 to 0.159%, and the third level is a BAC level of 0.16 and higher.  

How Are Pain and Suffering Damages Calculated? 

Pain and suffering damages, are calculated based upon the severity of your injury, the medical care and treatment you are required to undergo and the length of time it takes you to recover.  

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Pennsylvania? 

Pennsylvania, like most states, has a statute of limitations on personal injury claims. According to Section 5524 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, the statute of limitations for personal injury actions is generally two years from the date of the incident. After two years, the victim may not pursue legal action against the liable party unless the person is a minor, which can extend the statute of limitations. 

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Monaca? 

The cost of hiring a drunk driving accident attorney in Monaca can vary widely, depending on the complexity of the case and individual attorneys’ rates and fee structures. However, many personal injury lawyers operate on a contingency basis, meaning they require no upfront fee. Instead, they get a percentage of any settlement they secure for their client. 

Hire a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer – Contact Bowers Fawcett & Hurst, LLC, Today

If a drunk driver in Monaca has injured you or a loved one, you deserve legal representation who can relentlessly pursue the compensation you need to rebuild your life. At Bowers Fawcett & Hurst, LLC, we can go to work for you. Contact us today to discuss your drunk driving accident case.