Unfortunately, drunk driving accidents are way too common and way too frequent in New York. It’s addressed very early on that there is something beyond your standard automobile accident that should be alleged here and something that needs to be shown. We take this very, very seriously.
The insurance carriers are aware of how serious this is. There may be another level of damages that somebody is entitled to, including punitive damages in some cases, when they’re hurt by somebody who’s careless enough beyond words to drive while they’ve been drinking, drive drunk, and cause an accident.
We have unfortunately had to represent not only victims who’ve survived, but the families of people who did not survive after being injured by drunk drivers.
These cases, and that’s not to say that every case and every client isn’t treated with priority and importance, are the ones that kind of jump off the page and require immediate attention and immediate lawsuits.
The added factor, and the added things we have to do, is work with the district attorney’s office and the police, which we of course always do. I always voluntarily meet with the handling district attorney, investigator, or detective with my client to make sure they have our full cooperation, to make sure that justice is done on the criminal side, and that my client is as compensated as they can be for the horrific injuries they’ve suffered.