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New Jersey Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

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New Jersey Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

Essex County Drunk Driver Accident Lawyer

Everybody knows that it is both unsafe and illegal to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Unfortunately, thousands of people still do. In recent times, the United States has seen roughly 10,000 fatalities due to drunk driving every single year. This is a harrowing statistic, and it is a testament to the true dangers of drunk driving. At Rubenstein, Berliner & Shinrod, LLC, we understand the physical and financial distress, as well as the emotional heartache you may be dealing with when you or your loved one has been involved in a serious accident involving alcohol. It is important to discuss your situation with an Essex County drunk driving liability lawyer today.

Our Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help

Whether you were hit by a drunk driver or over-served in an establishment, causing alcohol poisoning or other serious injuries, our attorneys can help you hold the responsible party accountable for the damages you have sustained. Our law firm also represents the family members of wrongful death victims involved in alcohol-related accidents throughout New Jersey. If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in an accident with a drunk driver, please continue reading and contact Rubenstein, Berliner & Shinrod, LLC today so we can begin helping you and your family through every step of the claims process ahead.

What to do After a Drunk Driving Accident

As you know, all car accidents are jarring, and because of this, they often leave those involved in a state of shock. Of course, this is entirely understandable, as you are most likely physically injured and emotionally rattled, to say the least. However, you should understand that by taking the following steps, you may drastically increase your chances of winning a future personal injury claim. As long as you are physically capable, try and do the following after your accident:

  • The first thing you must do is call the police. They will send an ambulance to the scene of the accident, and they will also write up a report of the accident. Furthermore, the police will administer field sobriety tests to the drunk driver, as well as (most likely) ask the driver to take a breathalyzer test, which will determine whether his or her BAC is above the legal limit. This is extremely valuable information when it comes to filing your future claim.
  • In most cases, after an accident, you should ask the driver for his or her insurance information. However, if you believe the driver is drunk and he or she is acting erratically, you can simply call the police and wait in your car until they arrive.
  • Ask all those who saw your accident happen for their full name, as well as their phone number and email address so they can provide you with the testimony you may need to prove your claim.
  • Take pictures of any damage to your car, the other driver’s car, and any other property that was damaged as a result of the accident.
  • Once you are transported to the hospital and treated, do not leave without receiving all documentation concerning the origin and extent of your injuries.
  • Hire an experienced Essex County drunk driving accident attorney who has helped countless victims of drunk driving through the years. We know that these accidents are inexcusable, and we are ready to fight for your rights.

New Jersey’s Dram Shop Law

If you are someone who has been injured at the hands of a drunk driver, you are most likely now looking to sue that driver for compensation. However, you should understand that under New Jersey’s dram shop law, in certain cases, you may also hold a liable third party accountable for your injuries as well. Simply put, the dram shop law in New Jersey states you may sue the establishment that served alcohol the driver who caused your accident if the driver was either visibly intoxicated at the time he or she was served alcohol, or if the driver was a minor and the establishment who served that individual had reason to believe that he or she was a minor. So, for example, if a bar illegally serves a minor alcohol, and that minor gets into his or her car, crashes into you, and you are injured as a result, you may sue the minor, as well as the establishment that served the minor in a personal injury claim under New Jersey’s dram shop law.

Recovering Compensation

When someone is injured in an accident, they often pursue damages to help them heal. When you hire our experienced Essex County drunk driver accident attorneys to represent you, we will seek two types of damages: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages include the actual cost of your accident, and cover expenses such as medical bills, lost wages, the cost of rehabilitation, and more. That being said, we may also pursue non-economic damages, which include loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and more.

Statute of Limitations

When someone is injured in an accident, they may wish to wait to see if their injuries heal on their own before pursuing financial compensation, as they do not want to get caught up in the legal process if they do not have to. However, the unfortunate reality is that this is seldom a good idea, for there is a statute of limitations in place in New Jersey that dictates how long an individual can wait to file a personal injury claim. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in New Jersey is, generally, two years, which means that you will have two years from the date of your accident to sue the drunk driver who caused your accident. Our firm is ready to begin the claims process on your behalf today–all you have to do is ask.

Exploring Different Avenues Of Recovery In Your Serious Personal Injury Case

Having obtained more than $500 million in verdicts and settlements in complex and often devastating personal injury cases throughout the years, our team of Essex County alcohol-related accident lawyers recognizes the legal obstacles you face in your case. When an individual drinks alcohol and then gets behind the wheel of a car, he or she is taking serious and sometimes fatal risks. Our lawyers wholeheartedly believe in holding an individual responsible if he or she hurts someone resulting from careless and negligent actions.

If you have been severely injured in the above scenarios or your family member has been killed in an alcohol-related accident, we urge you to contact our firm. Our attorneys are determined to help you hold the responsible party accountable for the actions that caused you physical, financial, and emotional suffering.

Contact an Essex County Drunk Driver Liability Lawyer

If you are someone who has recently been injured at the hands of a drunk driver in New Jersey, our firm is here to help fight for the justice you deserve. We represent clients across New Jersey and offer free initial consultations. Our legal services are provided on a contingency fee basis — if we accept your case, there is no fee unless we recover damages for you. Contact Rubenstein, Berliner & Shinrod, LLC today to schedule your initial consultation with our seasoned Essex County personal injury attorneys.

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