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The Rising Crisis of Drunk Driving Accidents in Cherry Hill, NJ
If an intoxicated driver injured you, a Cherry Hill drunk driving accident lawyer can help you recover compensation. These preventable crashes are a leading cause of fatal accidents in New Jersey, with 697 deaths in 2021—a 30% increase from the prior year.
Key aspects of a Cherry Hill drunk driving claim include:
- Immediate Steps: Call 911, get medical care, document the scene, and contact a lawyer.
- Compensation: Covers medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.
- Deadline: New Jersey has a 2-year statute of limitations.
- Liable Parties: The drunk driver, over-serving bars, and social hosts can be held responsible.
- Common Injuries: TBIs, spinal cord damage, broken bones, and PTSD.
Drunk driving accidents are preventable tragedies. When an intoxicated driver hits you, they have made a choice that puts innocent people at risk. New Jersey law strongly protects victims’ rights, allowing you to seek full compensation for your injuries and losses.
These crashes often cause catastrophic injuries because impaired drivers have slower reaction times and poor judgment. Unlike other car accidents, drunk driving cases may also include punitive damages, which are extra funds awarded to punish the drunk driver’s reckless behavior.
I’m Jason Fine, a cherry hill drunk driving accident lawyer with over 25 years of experience. As a ten-time Pennsylvania Super Lawyer nominee, I’ve seen the devastation these crashes cause and am committed to fighting for maximum compensation for victims in Cherry Hill and throughout New Jersey.
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Understanding Your Rights After a Drunk Driving Accident in Cherry Hill
When a drunk driver hits you, your life can change instantly. It’s crucial to know that New Jersey law is firmly on your side. Understanding your rights is the first step toward justice and compensation. While the legal process may seem complex, it’s designed to help victims. Unlike other car accidents, fault is often clear in drunk driving cases, giving you a significant advantage when seeking compensation.
New Jersey’s Strict Drunk Driving and Liability Laws
New Jersey has tough laws to protect innocent victims of drunk driving. Intoxication was the top contributing factor in 210 fatal crashes in 2021, a 30% increase from the previous year.
A driver is legally intoxicated with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher (0.04% for commercial drivers, 0.02% for drivers under 21). However, a driver can still be held liable even if their BAC is below the legal limit if their impairment caused the crash.
After a drunk driving accident, you’re dealing with two cases: criminal and civil. The state prosecutes the driver in the criminal case, and a conviction provides powerful evidence for your civil claim. As your cherry hill drunk driving accident lawyer, we handle your civil case to recover compensation for your losses. Because driving drunk is illegal, the driver is considered “negligent per se.” This automatically establishes their negligence, allowing us to focus on proving your damages rather than arguing about fault.
The drunk driver isn’t always the only liable party. New Jersey’s dram shop liability laws allow victims to pursue claims against bars or restaurants that served a visibly intoxicated or underage person who then caused an accident. You can learn more about New Jersey’s dram shop law. Similarly, social host liability can hold private party hosts responsible if they serve alcohol to a guest who is clearly drunk or underage and subsequently causes a crash.
As your cherry hill drunk driving accident lawyer, we investigate every angle to identify all potential sources of compensation. For more information, visit More info about Cherry Hill NJ Personal Injury Attorney.
Critical First Steps for Victims of a DUI Crash
The actions you take immediately after a drunk driving accident are critical for your health and your legal case. You are building the foundation for your recovery.
- Call 911 Immediately: Your safety is the priority. Police will document the scene and check for intoxication, creating a crucial police report. Paramedics will evaluate your injuries.
- Seek Medical Attention: Adrenaline can mask serious injuries. A prompt medical evaluation creates a record linking your injuries directly to the crash.
- Document the Scene: If you can do so safely, take photos of vehicles, damage, license plates, your injuries, and the surrounding area. Write down everything you remember.
- Gather Information: Get the other driver’s name, contact info, and insurance details. Collect names and phone numbers from any witnesses.
- Avoid Admitting Fault: Do not apologize or speculate about fault. Even a simple “I’m sorry” can be used against you by insurance companies.
- Don’t Talk to the Other Insurer: Let your cherry hill drunk driving accident lawyer handle all communications with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Their adjusters are trained to minimize your claim.
- Contact a Lawyer Promptly: The sooner we get involved, the better we can protect your rights and preserve evidence.
Types of Compensation and Common Injuries You Can Claim
A drunk driving accident causes physical, financial, and emotional harm. New Jersey law allows you to seek compensation for all these impacts. As your cherry hill drunk driving accident lawyer, we fight for every dollar you deserve.
- Economic Damages: These cover measurable financial losses, including all current and future medical bills, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, and property damage.
- Non-Economic Damages: This compensates for intangible losses like pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium (impact on your family relationships).
- Punitive Damages: Unique to cases involving gross negligence, these damages are intended to punish the drunk driver’s reckless behavior and often lead to larger settlements.
Drunk driving accidents often cause severe injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries and organ damage
- Psychological trauma, such as PTSD and anxiety
- Wrongful death
If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury, we understand the overwhelming journey ahead. These cases require extensive documentation and expert testimony to calculate lifetime care costs. For more information, visit More info about Cherry Hill Catastrophic Injury Lawyer.
How a Cherry Hill Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Maximizes Your Claim
After a drunk driving accident, you face a complex legal maze while dealing with insurance companies that prioritize profits over people. A skilled cherry hill drunk driving accident lawyer is your essential advocate and guide. These cases involve layers of legal complexity, and one misstep can cost you the compensation you deserve.
Navigating Complex Legal Problems with a Cherry Hill Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
The legal system has strict, complex rules. Missing a deadline or a procedural step while you’re recovering from your injuries can jeopardize your entire case.
- Statute of Limitations: New Jersey’s statute of limitations gives you only two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit. This deadline is strict, and waiting can weaken your case as evidence disappears. It’s crucial to act quickly. You can learn more about New Jersey’s two-year deadline for personal injury lawsuits.
- Comparative Negligence: New Jersey’s modified comparative negligence rule means your compensation can be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover anything. We work to minimize any fault attributed to you.
- UM/UIM Claims: If the drunk driver is uninsured or underinsured, we can help you file a claim against your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage to ensure you are compensated.
- Proving Fault: We build a comprehensive case using police reports, toxicology results, witness statements, and expert analysis to prove the direct link between the impaired driving and your injuries.
- Insurance Negotiations: Adjusters are trained to minimize payouts using tactics like lowball offers and delays. We handle all communication with insurers, protecting you from these strategies while aggressively negotiating a fair settlement. For more on our approach, visit More info about Cherry Hill Car Accident Lawyer.
Why an Experienced Cherry Hill Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer is Crucial for Your Case
Choosing the right lawyer means finding a partner who will fight for your rights with the compassion you deserve. At J. Fine Law, our track record speaks for itself.
- Proven Success: We maintain a 98% success rate and have recovered over $50 million for our clients. We are committed to rapid response and personalized attention.
- Comprehensive Investigation: We gather police and toxicology reports, medical records, witness statements, and expert testimony. We also work with accident reconstructionists and search for video evidence to build the strongest possible case.
- Full Damage Calculation: We work with medical and financial experts to project your future needs, including ongoing treatment, lost earning capacity, and the impact on your quality of life, ensuring every loss is factored into your demand.
- Fighting Insurance Tactics: We have seen every trick insurance companies use to deny fair compensation. We act as your shield, armed with irrefutable evidence and deep knowledge of personal injury law.
- Litigation Experience: While many cases settle, we are always prepared for trial. Our reputation as aggressive litigators often leads to better settlement offers from insurers who know we will fight in court.
Statistics from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) highlight this ongoing crisis, showing drunk driving remains a leading cause of death on our roads. Holding drunk drivers accountable is vital for your recovery and for preventing future tragedies. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) statistics on the problem.
If a drunk driver in Cherry Hill, NJ, has injured you, don’t wait. Every day that passes makes it harder to build a strong case. Contact our law firm in Cherry Hill, NJ for a free consultation and let us start fighting for you. Your consultation is confidential and free of charge.