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Chicago is a busy lakefront city with dense traffic, vibrant nightlife, and major highways that keep people constantly on the move. Crowded streets, late hours, and long commutes can increase the likelihood of crashes.
After a drunk driving crash here, victims often face medical bills, lost wages, and ongoing care costs that can quickly overwhelm families. That is why drunk driving lawyers from Clifford Law Offices in Chicago work to untangle insurance, document losses, and secure recovery. Let’s first handle the basics!
The Types of Expenses Victims May Recover Money For
While many victims of drunk driving accidents simply think about the money they owe for their hospital bill, they should be thinking about the much larger picture.
Drunk driving lawyers will fight to make sure all possible categories of loss are included as part of a lawsuit. These categories of loss can include, but are not limited to:
- The cost of all medical treatment
- All rehabilitation or physical therapy is needed for the victim.
- Any lost income during the time the victim was unable to work because of their injuries
- Loss of future earning ability
- Damage to the victim’s vehicle
Alcohol is responsible for a significant percentage of fatal automobile accidents in the United States, according to data collected by the NHTSA.
How to Establish the Other Driver Was Intoxicated and at Fault
Before a victim can collect compensation from the person who caused the car accident while under the influence of alcohol, it must be proven that the defendant was indeed intoxicated and at fault for the accident.
Lawyers will gather evidence, including, but not limited to, police reports, the defendant’s blood alcohol content, witness accounts, and any video footage of the accident.
Insurance companies often attempt to dispute or downplay claims against them. Experienced drunk driving lawyers know how to counter lowball offers made by insurance companies with substantial evidence supporting their client’s claims.
Why It Is Important to Have a Lawyer Representing Your Interest
When trying to deal with insurance companies on their own, victims of drunk driving accidents can quickly become overwhelmed. Insurance companies often push for quick settlements to avoid covering the victim’s long-term needs.
Experienced drunk driving lawyers understand how to advocate for the victim’s full extent of damages and how to determine and document long-term needs of the victim, including future medical expenses, lost wages, etc., that may not be immediately apparent after the accident.
How Drunk Driving Lawyers Work With Experts
In addition to the lawyers’ expertise in establishing liability and advocating for the victim, many drunk driving lawyers will work closely with experts, including but not limited to medical doctors, economists, and life care planners, to estimate the total cost of the victim’s injuries.
By working together in a multidisciplinary fashion, the victim’s claim can be strengthened, and the settlement amount will likely be greater and more accurate.
Final Key Takeaways
- Attorneys help recover medical, income, and property losses.
- Evidence gathering establishes fault and intoxication.
- Insurers may undervalue claims without legal pressure.
- Future expenses and long-term impacts are included.
- Expert testimony strengthens financial recovery.
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