Drunk Driver Car Accident – Lawyers MN
Drunk Driving Auto Accidents Are Too Frequent
Despite significant effort by law enforcement, drunk driving is still one of the leading causes of car accidents. In fact, 3 in every 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives. Our attorneys represent people in Minnesota injured by a drunk driver. Car crashes and injuries caused by drunk drivers are infuriating. The level of irresponsibility is so much higher with an impaired driver compared to the momentary driver inattention we see in other auto accident cases. There should always be serious consequences for driving drunk.
Our attorneys have had many MN cases where a drunk driver hit our client at an intersection. In other cases, the drunk driver hit our client in a rear end accident. Of course, the worst cases involve the drunk driver hitting our client head-on by crossing into the oncoming traffic lane. The injuries from these crashes can be quite serious.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10,800 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in one year. Of course, many others involved in a drunk driver car crash are injured. More than half a million people across the country were injured in crashes where police reported that alcohol was present. That is an average of one person injured approximately every 2 minutes. These numbers are inexcusable. All these crashes could have easily been avoided if the drunk driver had simply chosen not to drive while impaired. Of course, the bar that served them should also have cut them off, as required by law.
Drunk Driving Laws in Minnesota
Minnesota law prohibits a person from driving while intoxicated. This is defined as having a blood alcohol level of more than .08%. The Minnesota Dram Shop Act also prohibits a liquor establishment from serving alcohol in certain circumstances. For example, a bar cannot sell alcohol without a license or serve alcohol to an underage person. Most importantly, a bar cannot sell alcohol to a person who is obviously intoxicated. MN law also prohibits any person from serving alcohol to someone under 21 years of age (Social Host Liability). Unfortunately, many bars don’t cut-off paying customers. The bar just wants the money or isn’t paying attention.
Our top car accident lawyers have helped many injury victims who were hit by a drunk driver. We sue the drunk driver, and sometimes the bar as well. Our attorneys also represent people who have been injured at a bar because they were attacked by a drunk customer or bouncer.
We Sue The Drunk Driver and Bar That Over Served Them.
The Rochlin Law Firm, Ltd. has more than 25 years’ experience successfully fighting for clients who have been injured by a drunk driver. When our clients are injured in a drunk driver car accident, our attorney will make sure that the drunk driver, and if necessary, the bar, are held accountable. You can often get some compensation even if the drunk driver is uninsured. Our MN personal injury lawyers have considerable experience obtaining the necessary expert and investigative documentation to prove a case against the drunk driver and the irresponsible liquor establishment.
If you have been injured because a drunk driver rear-ended you or otherwise caused your auto accident – or one of your loved ones has been killed in a drunk driving car crash in Minnesota – please contact a lawyer at our office for a free consultation. See also, How to Get Medical Bills Paid.
An experienced attorney will meet with you to discuss your drunk driver case at our offices in Minneapolis, Woodbury, and Edina. A lawyer will also meet with you at your home if you have been hit by a drunk driver in St. Paul MN, Forest Lake, Lake Elmo, or Brooklyn Park. We also come to Brooklyn Center, Anoka Minnesota, Plymouth, Rogers, Chanhassen, Chaska, Burnsville, Richfield, and other cities throughout Minnesota.
For additional information on drunk driving statistics, drunk driving prevention and victim services, see Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, www.madd.org.