Drunk Driving Accidents
Despite strict drunk driving laws, reliance upon designated drivers, taxis and Uber drivers, driving under the influence of alcohol remains a persistent and serious problem. Each year, drunk drivers are responsible for thousands of deaths and serious bodily injuries. Victims of injuries caused by drunk driving are often saddled with significant medical expenses, lost earnings and lengthy rehabilitation periods in addition to the emotional distress they’ve suffered.
Obtain Compensation
If you or a loved one were seriously injured as a result of a drunk driver, you may be entitled to sue for damages. The lawyers at Hilbrich Law Firm will fight for the compensation you deserve. We have a longstanding reputation for recovering significant compensation for injuries and damages on behalf of accident victims.
Compensation may include such items as:
- Ambulance and EMT services
- ER visit and test expenses
- Hospital and physician expenses
- Testing, treatments, and surgeries
- Medical equipment (such as wheelchairs or walkers),
- Medication expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy and rehabilitation expenses
- Lost income and loss of earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement and scarring
And if you lost a loved one due to a drunk driving accident, you may have a wrongful death claim, which also entitles you to file a claim for damages.
Overserving Alcohol
Indiana has liquor liability laws which may come into play in the course of your case. Under Indiana law, if a patron at any bar, nightclub or restaurant is visibly intoxicated and the bartender or server continues to serve alcohol, the establishment may have a share in the legal liability if that patron gets behind the wheel and hits someone.
The lawyers at Hilbrich Law Firm will investigate your case and will carefully evaluate your circumstances to determine if an establishment is liable for violating dram shop laws and if you are entitled to file a lawsuit against the owner as well.
Drunk Driving Injury Cases At Hilbrich Law Firm
It is our job to research your accident, interview witnesses, identify evidence and build a case that lets the court or jury know just how much compensation you deserve for your injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any other damages you incurred.
If you or a loved one was a victim of a drunk driving accident, call Hilbrich Law Firm at 219-924-2427 or e-mail us at [email protected] to schedule a free consultation. We charge no attorney’s fees unless we collect compensation for you.
Distracted Driving accidents
Nearly every person today driving a car owns a cellphone. People use their smartphones now more and more frequently due to hand-held internet access, social media and tempting apps. The use of mobile devices while operating a vehicle, however, is extremely unsafe.
According to the Federal Communications Commission, distracted driving caused 3,179 deaths and 431,000 injuries in 2014. Drivers nevertheless continue to use cellphones while driving and the numbers continue to rise. An estimated 666,000 drivers use a cellphone while driving at any given time in America.
Distracted Driving Is Very Dangerous
Far too many cellphone owners use their phone and text while driving. Drivers are distracted for a shockingly long distance for the brief few seconds it takes to compose and send a text. In just five seconds it may take to text, a car traveling 55 miles per hour goes the length of an entire football field. It is therefore no wonder that drivers are 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident when they text while operating a vehicle.
Even experienced drivers overestimate their capability to multi-task and drive. Stereotypes point the finger at younger drivers for their poor phone habits, however parents and middle-aged drivers are also guilty. In fact, according to a survey conducted by Texting and Driving Safety, 27% of adults admitted to sending and receiving text messages while driving. And out of the six million car accidents every year, 28% are caused by distracted drivers on their cellphones. It is believed that texting and driving is almost as dangerous as driving intoxicated. So how can we fix the problem?
The Texting While Driving Problem Solution
Lead by example. Don’t make excuses for why you need to look at your phone while driving. If you must, consider leaving your phone in the back seat or trunk to avoid the temptation of checking email or looking at text messages. It is important for parents to set a good example for their children. Young drivers will likely use their parents as an excuse to text and drive. One study showed that up to 48% of young divers reported seeing their parent use their cellphone when they were behind the wheel.
Parents may also purchase applications and technology to help make sure their kids don’t text and drive. Drive cams also monitor your children’s activity. AT&T even offers an anti-texting and driving app for Android.
While state laws also help limit texting while driving and distracted drivers we must ourselves be vigilant in reducing this crisis.
Contact Hilbrich Law Firm For A Free Personal Injury Consultation
Have you experienced a collision caused by a distracted driver? Contact us today for a free consultation regarding your texting while driving injury case. Call 219-444-4330 or contact us online.