When someone decides to drive while under the influence of alcohol, they are making a risky decision that could destroy lives in an instant. Physical injuries are only part of what can be caused by drunk driving accidents. The emotional scars, as well as the financial burdens, can last for many years after an accident.
Accountability is important in the aftermath of an accident caused by drunk driving. Not only for justice but also for healing. It’s not about revenge to take legal action. It’s all about helping the victims emotionally and financially recover from an incident that shouldn’t have occurred in the first instance.
Drunk Driving Accidents: The emotional toll
A drunk driving accident can be a traumatic experience. The victims often feel blindsided, not just by the crash itself but also by the fact that the other driver chose to drive drunk. It wasn’t that they were unlucky. Someone else was responsible for their injuries.
This kind of betrayal is devastating.
Survivors may experience:
- Anxiety
- Posttraumatic Stress
- Nightmares or sleep disturbances
- Fear when driving a car or riding on a motorcycle
- Guilt – especially if other people were injured or killed
Even those who are not physically injured can suffer emotionally. For families who have lost a loved on to a drunken driver, grief can be complicated by anger and unbelief. Losing someone in an accident is one thing. The fact that it could have been prevented is another thing.
Financial Burden
The financial cost is real, even though it’s difficult to quantify. Medical bills can pile up quickly, especially in cases of serious injuries requiring surgery, hospitalization or long-term rehabilitation. The weight of medical bills can be increased by lost income, property damages, therapy costs and future care costs.
Families who suffer fatal accidents may face additional financial hardships, including funeral expenses, loss of household income and long-term financial instability.
The insurance may not cover all the damages, and the policy of the driver at fault could be limited. It is often necessary to take legal action in order to pursue compensation via a civil lawsuit.
Why Legal Accountability is Important
Legal consequences serve two vital purposes: justice and prevention.
In terms of justice, the goal is to hold the drunk driver financially responsible for any harm caused. A civil lawsuit can cover medical costs, lost wages and pain and suffering. The civil claim gives victims and their families a sense that they are in control, something many people feel like they have lost after the accident.
There’s also a larger purpose.
Drunk driving poses a serious threat to public safety. It is important to hold drivers accountable for their actions. This will help them understand that they have lasting, real consequences. This sends the message that such behavior will not be tolerated and that the lives of victims are important.
Some courts award punitive damage, which are financial penalties that aim to punish the driver, as well as deter future similar acts.
What victims should know
You don’t need to deal with a drunken driving accident alone. You can file civil claims if the state has filed criminal charges. Both cases are separate and have a different goal: helping victims to recover and rebuild their life.
The evidence is crucial. All of these can help your case: police reports, witness testimony, breathalyzer test results, and video surveillance. Medical records, photos of accident scenes, and documentation of injuries and expenses can all be used to support your case.
You can preserve more evidence by acting sooner than later.
Final Thoughts
Drunk driving accidents have a lasting impact that extends far beyond the accident scene. They can cause deep pain, loss, and disruption. These effects are often permanent. Legal action may not be able to undo the past, but it can help ease financial burdens and provide a path towards justice and closure.
Healing is a part of accountability. For many victims, and their families, accountability is a step in the right direction.
This post was written by a professional at Jeanette Secor, PA Attorney At Law.
For over 20 years, the law office of Jeanette Secor, PA in St. Petersburg, FL, has been the go-to choice for those seeking justice after an injury. Renowned as personal injury lawyer slip and fall St Petersburg FL, Jeanette Secor has a proven track record of successfully representing clients in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and slip-and-fall incidents.
