Drunk and impaired driving accidents are all too common despite severe state and federal civil and criminal laws trying to prevent such accidents. Criminal cases are pursued by the District Attorney’s Office and aim to prove the defendant’s guilt and may result in jail time, fines, or license suspension. Civil cases, on the other hand, are brought by the party injured as a result of the drunk or impaired party’s negligence.  

Victims of drunk or impaired driving accidents are entitled to various types of compensation including economic damages covering medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage; non-economic damages for pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life; and in some cases, punitive damages meant to penalize particularly egregious behavior.