Drunk Driving

KNOXVILLE DUI ATTORNEY

Hotz & Associates, P.C. has decades of experience in holding drunk drivers accountable for their negligent actions, endangering the lives of other drivers and pedestrians.

The damages sustained in these accidents are often incredibly serious, not to mention the lost wages and doctor’s bills that accumulate quickly and easily become overwhelming. Hotz & Associates knows that you need full and fair compensation for all of your injuries.

If you or a loved one were injured by a drunk driver in a car or truck wreck, contact our Knoxville personal injury lawyers today for your free case consultation.

Make sure you file a claim on time

The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim in Tennessee is one year from the date of the incident. That means you must file a claim within one year or you may not be able to obtain any compensation for your injuries or losses.

While this may seem like a lot of time, DUI cases often require in-depth investigations that can take months to complete. Your attorney needs ample time to look into all the evidence and build a strong case on your behalf before filing your claim.

Timeliness is crucial because some of the evidence, such as surveillance video, may not be available after a certain amount of time, and witness statements might become unreliable as more time passes.

Don’t wait until the last minute to call Hotz & Associates — we’re ready to help you today. The sooner you call, the better positioned we’ll be to build a strong case on your behalf.

Possible damages you may be able to recover

The aim of filing a personal injury claim is to pursue compensation for the losses you’ve suffered due to your injuries that were caused by the wreck. Known as damages, these losses generally fall into two categories: economic and non-economic.

• Economic damages are the losses that have a monetary value, such as lost wages, medical bills for the treatment of your injury, and modifications you may have had to make to your home or car to accommodate a disability. Both past and future losses can be included in economic damages, as long as they are proven to be necessary.
• Non-economic damages are more difficult to quantify since they don’t have a set value. These damages may include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.

You can only recover money in a personal injury drunk driving suit

Keep in mind that a personal injury lawsuit involving a drunk driver is a civil lawsuit and won’t result in criminal charges being filed against the driver. The purpose of a civil suit is to recover monetary damages for the losses incurred, not to punish the driver for their actions.

This is an important distinction to understand as some people mistakenly assume they can file criminal charges against the driver through a personal injury case. While the drunk driver may have an active criminal case, the outcome of your civil suit will not directly affect the criminal case.

Parties who may be liable for your injury

To secure the full compensation you’re entitled to, your Knoxville personal injury lawyer will need to identify all of the parties who may be held liable for your injuries.

While the most obvious target of your case may be the drunk driver, there are often other parties who can be held accountable. This is because many drunk driving wrecks are caused by a variety of factors, not just the actions of a single drunk driver.

For example, if a drunk driver hit you while you were crossing the street in a poorly maintained or ill-lit crosswalk, your lawyer may also name the city or county as a defendant if they failed to provide adequate lighting or repair a worn-out crosswalk.

If faulty brakes ultimately caused the wreck and the drunk driver’s intoxication prevented them from acting in time to minimize harm to other people, then the manufacturer of those brakes may also be named as a liable party.

Tennessee dram shop law

Another potential target of your legal action may be the establishment that served the driver alcohol.

Tennessee is one of many states that has implemented a dram shop law that allows victims of alcohol-related accidents to pursue civil damages from any bar, restaurant, or liquor store that recklessly served alcohol to an underage or visibly intoxicated person who then caused a wreck.

Here’s an example of when Tennessee’s dram shop law may come into play: A bartender notices that a patron is visibly intoxicated, yet continues to serve them. The person then leaves the bar, gets behind the wheel of their car, and causes a wreck due to their intoxication. The victim of the crash may be able to file a claim against the bar for their negligent actions.

How our Knoxville DUI attorneys prove liability

Drunk driving accidents are without a doubt the most preventable form of car accidents. When someone chooses to drink and get behind the wheel of a car, they willingly endanger the life of every single other person on the road.

When you or someone you love is involved in an accident with a drunk driver, it’s of the utmost importance to speak with a DUI lawyer as quickly as you can. As soon as you contact Hotz & Associates, we’ll go to work for you by immediately investigating all of the details of the accident. This investigation will include:

• Gathering all police reports and available accident reports
• Speaking to any witnesses
• Gathering medical and hospital records
• Obtaining other relevant evidence for your claim

Legal options for families left behind

Sadly, these types of accidents are often fatal, leaving behind tremendous heartbreak. Fathers, mothers, husbands, and children are tragically taken away from their loved ones, leaving a gaping hole in the lives of those who were left behind.

Winning a wrongful death claim won’t make that pain go away, but it can provide you and your family a sense of justice which can help you move forward and begin to put life back together.

Were you or a loved one hurt in a DUI crash? Our skilled attorneys can help.

Hotz & Associates, P.C. will give you the advocacy you need to go on when a serious injury or tragic death occurs. If you want to talk to an experienced, aggressive, professional Knoxville personal injury lawyer, call (865) 582-0042 to schedule your free consultation. You’ll be glad you did.