Las Vegas Personal Injury Attorneys

Drunk Driving Accidents

Every year, drunk drivers on the Nevada roads cause injuries to accident victims and anguish to their families.  In Nevada as of 2008, 33% of all traffic collision fatalities involved drunk driving by a driver with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or more.

Drunk Driving Laws

Every state, including Nevada, has drunk driving laws in an effort to help reduce the number of accidents and fatalities resulting from drunk driving.  Every state defines two kinds of drunk driving offenses:

• Driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated or impaired (DWI), or operating while intoxicated or impaired (OWI).  The evidence for this offense comes from a police officer’s observation of driving behavior, slurred speech, or behavior during a roadside sobriety test.
• Driving in a manner that is “illegal per se.” This means that the driver is automatically convicted if he or she has been found to have a blood alcohol concentration at or above .08 percent.  

Penalties for Drunk Driving

Nevada and other states impose severe penalties for drunk driving, including:

• Jail
• Fines
• Loss of driver’s license
• Required ignition interlock devices
• Mandatory attendance at alcohol education programs
• Community service
• Freeway cleanup
• Increased car insurance rates
• Criminal convictions
• And other penalties

In 30 states, drunk drivers with multiple drunk driving offenses can be required to forfeit vehicles they have driven while under the influence.  Nevada imposes mandatory jail time after the second drunk driving offense.

Legal Rights of a Drunk Driving Accident Victim

Despite the seriousness with which the law regards drunk driving, thousands of traffic accidents occur due to intoxicated drivers.  These drunk driving accidents inflict grief and loss on the families of victims, as well as causing personal injury to the victim and sometimes death.

Our accident attorneys have significant experience representing victims of drunk driving.  We have handled many cases involving alcohol-impaired drivers, and we understand the seriousness of accident injuries in these Nevada lawsuits.  Nevada law allows victims of drunk driving to sue for punitive damages as a way to help them recover for more than the economic losses they may have suffered from a drunk driving accident.

When we file a claim on behalf of a drunk driving victim, we pursue every form of compensation legally available.  Our experienced accident lawyers aggressively pursue both the maximum coverage available from the insurance company, as well as the maximum damages available from the drunk driver.  Our attorneys will investigate the whereabouts of the drunk driver’s assets and do everything we can to ensure an accident victim’s full recovery.

If you or a loved one was involved in a motor vehicle accident in Nevada, consult an experienced attorney regarding your legal rights.  You may be entitled to sue for more than you think.

For a free consultation and assessment of your personal injury or wrongful death case against a drunk driver, call the Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyers at Oronoz Law Offices at 702-878-2889.