New York DUI Accident Lawyers
Holding Drunk Drivers Accountable

For decades, different private interest groups, governmental entities and even individuals have been working tirelessly to bring awareness to the problems associated with drinking and driving in an attempt to curb this practice on a collective level.  While every effort in this regard is noble, this problem is unfortunately continuing in New York.  Below you’ll find a brief overview of the problems regarding alcohol and driving in the state, and if you or someone you love has been harmed by a drunk driver, you need to seek the help of New York DUI accident lawyers as soon as possible.

New York DUI Accidents – Alcohol as a Contributing Factor

When police complete their accident reports after clearing the scene of a collision, one of the factors that they can choose to include in that report is alcohol.  This does not necessarily mean that the driver or drivers in a collision were both over the legal limit, but it does indicate that alcohol was relevant enough to the result that it should be included in the findings.

As a result, more than 8,000 New York car accidents that occur every year list alcohol as a factor.  Of these collisions, 156 of them are fatal and more than 4,600 result in at least one significant injury.  The number of fatal accidents represents more than 10 percent of the total fatal accidents that occur in New York on an annual basis.

The Rights of Those Injured in New York DUI Accidents

When someone has been harmed in an accident that was caused by a drunk driver, that driver will usually be arrested and prosecuted with what could be serious charges in certain circumstances.  Unfortunately, many people mistakenly believe that when the criminal prosecution process begins, their right to bring a New York personal injury lawsuit against that driver ends.

Simply put, this is not the case.  While it could be an advantage for some to have a criminal conviction to enter into evidence in a New York personal injury lawsuit, it is not necessary to proceed, and there are other ways in which the evidence regarding the drunk driver’s alcohol level can be entered into the record.  In general, New York law dictates that a driver is almost automatically negligent if he or she was drunk at the time an accident occurred.

Therefore, if you or someone you love has been harmed by a drunk driver, you should not wait to begin the process of defending your legal rights.  Instead, seek the help of New York DUI accident lawyers who have been holding those responsible for this type of conduct accountable for nearly 40 years.  Contact Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald today to schedule a free initial consultation.