Los Angeles Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

DUI Accidents and Who Pays

IF YOU ARE IN AN ACCIDENT AND ARRESTED FOR DUI - WILL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY PAY?

Who pays for and is responsible for a traffic accident caused by someone who is driving while under the influence of alcohol? Several factors come into play in this situation; but in most cases, as long as you were covered at the time of the accident, your insurance company should pay for the damages. However, some insurance policies have clauses that would exclude the company from completely paying for damages due to an accident caused by drunk driving. It is important to know what your coverage entails before, and especially after, a DUI accident, so call your agent and read completely through your insurance coverage. In the end, if you cause an accident because you were driving under the influence you will be ordered by the court to pay restitution to the victim. The claim may be covered by your insurance, but you will likely have to pay the deductible and your rates may skyrocket.

A major legal consideration in instances of DUI Accidents involving other motorists is whether or not another individual is injured due to the accident. If it can be proven that while you were driving under the influence, you injured another person; prosecutors will likely charge you with a felony "DUI with injury". This crime can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the severity of the accident and the extent of any injuries.

If you are convicted of a DUI with injury charge in California, you will be required to provide restitution to the injured party. If the injury is serious enough or someone has died, a wrongful death lawsuit could potentially be filed. A DUI with injury conviction can be life altering. This is why it is of vital importance to mount a strong, convincing defense through an experienced Los Angeles DUI accident attorney. A good DUI lawyer will work with an accident reconstruction expert who can independently evaluate whether the accident that caused the injury was truly your fault. In cases where alcohol or drugs are involved, authorities tend to automatically assign blame to the individual who is accused of DUI.

For more information on DUI Accidents and who is responsible for paying for damages, contact an experienced Los Angeles DUI defense attorney at Takakjian & Sitkoff, LLP today for a consultation of your situation at 888-579-4844.

Los Angeles Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

DUI Accidents and Who Pays

DUI Resource Center