Portland Victims of Drunk Drivers Attorney

Our drunk driving accident attorneys help victims who have been injured (or killed) due to the negligence of others. No one is more guilty than someone who chooses to drink to the point where his/her normal faculties are impaired and then get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

If you have been the victim of a drunk driver, it is important for you to understand that time limits to get full compensation can be as short as 180 days.

Our team of successful Portland drunk driving accident attorneys will aggressively pursue claims against drunk drivers who are responsible for serious injuries or even the death of our clients. We share your outrage and we understand your pain.

Why Choose Us:

• We are dedicated to securing maximum compensation in your case. Our Portland personal injury lawyers have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients.
• Our firm takes on a limited number of cases at a time, ensuring that our attorneys can provide you with the dedication and personalized attention you deserve.
• We take a proactive role in our clients’ health. Our firm operates a separate medical department staffed by healthcare professionals who can connect you with the treatment you need.

To get compensation after a drunk driving accident, you have several options:

1. You can file a claim with the auto insurance of the driver who hit you.
2. You can file a claim with your own insurance (if their auto insurance does not cover your damages).
3. You can file a claim against the establishment that sold the drunk driver alcohol. This is called a Dram Shop Notice. 

Drunk Drivers Can Be Subject to Both Criminal and Civil Penalties

In addition to a criminal case, our team of experienced and competent Portland drunk driving attorneys can assist you with the complex process of filing a civil suit. In a civil suit, you are the client, not a witness for the State. We make sure that our personal injury clients receive maximum compensation for their injuries. While we recognize that financial compensation cannot heal the devastation that you have endured, it can lessen your worry about medical bills and your future.

You may be entitled to compensation for:

• Present and future medical bills
• Loss of wages
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Trauma
• Disability
• Disfigurement
• Nerve Damage
• Scarring
• Loss of quality of life
• Rehabilitation

Additionally, you may be able to hold those parties accountable who provided the alcohol to the drunk driver who caused your injuries. These parties could include bar owners, restaurants, homeowners, party and social hosts, parents of underage drinkers, or any other party who contributed to the drunk driving incident that caused your injuries.

Some common injuries of drunk driving victims include brain damage, spinal cord injuries, burns, and more, all of which our attornies believe you should be compensated for.

The Difference Between Civil and Criminal Drunk Driving Cases

Being the victim of a drunk driving accident can be a life-altering event. Through no fault of their own, drunk driving victims can be injured or killed by impaired drivers. The legal limit for intoxicated driving is .08%. Drivers who have a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher can be convicted of a DUI in Portland. However, civil and criminal DUI cases are separate. Suppose you are injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver with a .06% blood alcohol concentration. Even though that driver cannot be convicted of drunk driving in a criminal court, you can still bring a civil lawsuit against him or her for economic damages.

Regarding personal injury lawsuits for compensation, you do not need to prove that the driver had a blood-alcohol level of .08% or higher, although a breathalyzer or blood alcohol test can help you tremendously in your civil liability lawsuit. Instead, you will need to prove that the driver’s negligence caused the car accident that resulted in your injury. Drivers are negligent when they fail to use reasonable care under the circumstances. When a driver is intoxicated to the point that it impairs their judgment, they are liable for any injuries caused by their negligence.

The Importance of Conducting a Thorough Investigation

As the victim of a Portland drunk driving accident, you must begin a thorough investigation of your case as soon as possible. Whether you plan on filing a claim for compensation through insurance or filing a personal injury lawsuit, you will need to gather evidence proving the drunk driver’s negligence caused your injuries. At DuBois Law Group, We have represented many victims of drunk driving throughout Portland, and even some instances of hit and run incidents.

Our attorneys understand what it takes to succeed in a drunk driving insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. We will use our vast resources to gather as much evidence as possible for your claim. We will interview witnesses at the scene, gather cell phone records, gather the police report and find all available evidence showing that the drunk driver’s negligence caused your car accident. We will also help you gather medical evidence demonstrating the severity of your injury so you can recover the full amount of compensation you deserve for your past and future medical expenses.

How Our Drunk Driving Lawyers Can Help You

DuBois Law Group is available to help you with your Portland drunk driving lawsuit. Our experienced personal injury lawyers have represented many drunk driving victims and obtain the compensation they deserve. We understand what steps you need to take to represent your interests. Whether you are pursuing compensation from an insurance policy or through a personal injury lawsuit, we are here to advocate for you.

Our legal team has the resources and skills necessary to investigate your drunk driving accident thoroughly. Proving that the at-fault driver was drunk or under the influence of drugs at the time of the car accident can be challenging. You need a legal team that will investigate the causes of the accident and gathers evidence proving that the outlaw driver’s intoxication causes your injuries.

Proving Liability in a Drunk Driving Accident

One of the most important aspects of a drunk-driving lawsuit is proving liability. The first step in your case involves determining which individuals or businesses are liable for your injuries. We will also determine whether the drunk driver was driving a commercial vehicle. If so, you may be able to pursue compensation from his or her employer due to negligent hiring practices. In other cases, a bar or restaurant may have over-served the at-fault driver alcohol, making the restaurant or bar liable under Oregon’s dram shop laws. We will help you file a civil court motion to obtain damages in a personal injury lawsuit.

During this challenging time in your life, you can rest assured knowing that the legal team at DuBois Law Group is standing up for your rights. We will manage your case from start to finish so you can focus on your recovery. We understand that our clients who have been severely injured in drunk driving accidents are unable to work. We do not charge our clients any legal fees upfront until we secure compensation on their behalf.

Tips for Victims of Drunk Driving Car Accidents

Knowing what to do after becoming the victim of a drunk driving accident can be challenging, especially when you’re recovering from the shock of the accident. The first thing you should do is call 9-1-1 from the scene of the car accident. You will need evidence to support your claim, and when police officers arrived at the scene, they will write a report that you can use to show that the drunk driver was at fault for the car accident.

If you are able to do so, gather information from witnesses to the drunk driving accident and take pictures of the scene. If you noticed any evidence of drunk driving, inform the police officer who arrives at the scene. The police officer may perform a field sobriety test or arrest the driver for a DUI.

Contact DuBois Law Group Today

Despite government and nonprofit groups’ attempts to decrease drunk driving, drunk driving accidents happen every day in Oregon. If you or your loved ones have been the victim of a drunk driving accident, you need an experienced lawyer on your side. At DuBois Law Group, we understand how devastating it can be to try to recover from your injuries while coping with extensive medical bills and the inability to return to work.

Our personal injury lawyers believe that drunk drivers should be held accountable for the injuries they cause. We work diligently to obtain the compensation our clients deserve. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation with an Oregan drunk driving lawyer. You will pay nothing unless we win your case.