Driving While Intoxicated

People come to Las Vegas from around the world to enjoy the city’s casinos and shows. These activities are often associated with drinking. Many locals enjoy the same activities. As a result, Las Vegas and Clark County have a very high number of injury accidents caused by impaired drivers.

The state of Nevada reports that 91 people died in alcohol-related accidents in the state in 2011. In Clark County, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested 6,121 motorists for DUI in August 2012.

A person who gets behind the wheel of a car while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is exhibiting blatant disregard for the lives and well-being of others.
Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of accidental deaths and injuries in the United States. MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) reports that in 2011, 9,878 people died in drunk driving crashes nationwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that nearly 30 people in the country die every day in motor vehicle accidents that are alcohol-related. This means one death every 48 minutes, and serious injuries for someone every 2 minutes.

When you or your family member becomes the victim of drunk driving, you will usually have to deal with injuries and property loss. In many instances, the injuries and consequences of an impaired driver accident are very serious and life changing. Some DUI or DWI accidents cause fatalities, with the resulting devastating pain and loss to family members.

It can be difficult in these situations to take the steps necessary to hold the driver accountable for the harm that’s been inflicted.

Why You Need a Personal Injury/Wrongful Death Lawyer

An impaired driver who caused an accident will have to face criminal charges. But the criminal charges are not going to compensate you for the injuries you or your family member suffered. To recover compensation for a wrongful death or serious injury caused by a drunk driver, you will need to present a civil claim. To obtain full, fair compensation it may be necessary to pursue the civil claim through the court system.

This is a time when Las Vegas personal injury attorney Eric Woods can step in and help. With Eric’s thirty-plus years of experience on your side, you’ll be able to turn your attention to recovering as much of your health as you can, or working through your grief. You should never attempt to negotiate directly with an insurance adjuster, whose job it is to diminish the value of your case.

DUI Damages

Eric will make a claim on your behalf for compensatory damages to cover your medical bills and other expenses, lost earnings, and physical and psychological pain and suffering. In some cases, he will also claim additional compensation in the form of punitive damages, which are to punish especially reprehensible behavior.

Eric Woods understands that for many victims, recovering compensation is not primarily about the money; it’s about making the driver face up to the pain and sorrow the reckless act of driving drunk has created. No one can turn back the clock, but drunk drivers can be made to pay. We hope that by holding these drivers accountable, we can deter them and others from future drinking and driving.
If you’ve suffered a serious injury or lost a family member to a wrongful death because of an impaired driver, call the law office of Eric Woods in Las Vegas. Nevada places time limits on injury and wrongful death claims, so don’t delay.