When a driver gets behind the wheel while intoxicated, it can mean significant danger for anyone else who shares the road with them. Drunk drivers not only have a greater risk of causing accidents, but they can also cause accidents with more severe injuries. Unfortunately, that can mean long recovery times, high medical costs, and significant losses for individuals injured in those accidents. Following drunk driving car accidents in Jackson, an injured person can work with a skilled lawyer to learn more about their rights and next steps.
Compensation following a drunk driving car crash in Jackson looks much the same as the compensation for other car accident injury claims. Mississippi is an at-fault state, which means the driver who caused an accident bears liability for the damages associated with the accident. In most cases, the injured party will file a claim with that driver’s insurance company for both the financial and non-financial damages they sustained, which means the claim will include compensation for all current and future medical treatment costs, wage losses, and pain and suffering.
In some cases, the court that convicts a driver of driving while intoxicated will assign punitive damages. Those damages are separate from the larger injury claim and are usually paid directly by the intoxicated driver, not by their insurance company. Punitive damages can be higher because of significant injury or loss to the injured party; however, punitive damages are generally not based on the injured party’s costs.
If the intoxicated driver clearly committed a negligent act that resulted in the accident, from speeding to swerving across lanes of traffic or behaving recklessly, a drunk driving conviction will not impact the compensation the injured person can recover. However, a conviction can serve as evidence that the intoxicated driver caused the accident in Jackson. That conviction can, therefore, make it easier for the injured individual to file a claim and receive fair compensation for their losses.
When an individual suffers injury in any type of auto accident, including a drunk driving accident, under state law, they have up to three years after the date of the accident to file an injury claim that will allow them to recover compensation for the damages sustained in the accident. However, several exceptions exist that can extend the time allotted to file a claim, including injury to a minor or injuries that the injured party did not discover until after the statute of limitations passed. After drunk driving car collisions in Jackson, the injured person should discuss their options with an attorney to best understand their rights.
Drunk driving car accidents in Jackson can mean heavy financial losses. An auto accident claim can provide the funds many injured individuals need to effectively manage treatment or their regular expenses while recovering. If you suffered injuries in a drunk driving accident, a lawyer can go over your options and help you pursue compensation for the damages related to the accident. Contact Weldy Law Firm today for a free consultation regarding your injuries and legal rights.
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