Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

When someone drives under the influence and causes an accident, they commit both a crime and a civil wrong that demands accountability. Drunk driving accidents often result in severe injuries because impaired drivers react slowly, make poor decisions, and may strike victims at high speeds without braking.

These cases can involve additional legal remedies, including punitive damages unavailable in standard accidents. At Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos, our Mountain View drunk driving accident attorneys help victims navigate both criminal and civil processes, securing substantial compensation that addresses the severity of injuries and the reckless nature of the driver’s conduct.

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Key Takeaways

• Drunk driving accidents often cause more severe injuries due to high-impact crashes
• Punitive damages may be available in addition to compensatory damages
• Multiple parties may bear liability beyond just the drunk driver
• Criminal cases proceed separately from civil lawsuits, with different standards of proof
• BAC test results and criminal evidence strengthen civil claims significantly
• Our Mountain View drunk driving accident lawyers focus on serious injury cases
• Early legal intervention helps coordinate civil and criminal proceedings

Why Hire Our Mountain View Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys

Drunk driving accidents can change lives in an instant, leaving victims with serious injuries, emotional trauma, and financial burdens. At Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos, we understand these challenges and are here to protect your rights.

Comprehensive Legal Representation

Our Mountain View and San Mateo drunk driving accident attorneys navigate criminal and civil proceedings, working with law enforcement and District Attorney offices to support your claims. To maximize compensation, we investigate the driver’s actions and potential third-party liability, including bars, restaurants, and social hosts.

Local Knowledge and Multilingual Advantage

Our familiarity with Mountain View’s nightlife, Castro Street, and downtown entertainment districts helps us identify contributing factors to help your case. Our team speaks Spanish, Chinese, and Greek, allowing us to gather vital testimony and work effectively with diverse witnesses.

Convenient San Mateo Office

Our San Mateo office is located at 411 Borel Ave #405, in the heart of a busy commercial and professional district near restaurants, shops, and public transit. This central location provides easy access for clients across the Bay Area. Call us at (650) 345-8484 to schedule a consultation.

Common Factors in Mountain View Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk driving accidents in Mountain View take many forms, and our attorneys have experience handling each. In the downtown Castro Street corridor, the concentration of bars and restaurants often leads to entertainment district accidents, where impaired patrons make poor choices after a night out.

Corporate event accidents also occur when employees drink at company parties or client gatherings and then attempt to drive, sometimes creating employer liability. Weekend and holiday crashes are common near Shoreline Amphitheatre, festivals, and local sporting events, where large crowds and alcohol consumption increase risks on surrounding roads.

We also pursue restaurant and bar over-service cases under California’s dram shop laws, holding establishments accountable for serving visibly intoxicated patrons. Repeat offender accidents can involve prior DUIs and often justify punitive damages.

Types of Serious Drunk Driving Accident Injuries We Handle

One of the most common drunk driving injuries we handle includes Traumatic brain injuries. These occur frequently in drunk driving accidents because impaired drivers often fail to brake or take evasive action before impact, resulting in high-speed crashes that cause severe head trauma.

The violent forces created when drunk drivers strike other vehicles or fixed objects can cause the brain to move within the skull, leading to concussions, lasting cognitive issues, or penetrating trauma that causes permanent disability. Victims may experience memory problems, personality changes, and motor function loss requiring extensive rehabilitation.

Spinal cord injuries and paralysis represent devastating consequences of drunk driving accidents that fundamentally alter victims' lives forever. The tremendous impact forces in high-speed crashes can fracture vertebrae, sever the spinal cord, or cause compression injuries resulting in complete or partial paralysis. These injuries often require emergency surgery, months of rehabilitation, and lifetime medical care, creating enormous financial burdens for victims and families.

Multiple trauma injuries are also common because impaired drivers frequently cause violent crashes that affect victims’ entire bodies. Victims may simultaneously suffer broken bones, internal organ damage, and other serious conditions requiring treatment from multiple specialists. These complex injuries often result in long hospital stays and uncertain recovery outcomes.

Wrongful death cases tragically occur when drunk driving accidents prove fatal. Families not only face the loss of a loved one but also the overwhelming emotional and financial consequences. Wrongful death claims can pursue compensation for lost financial support, companionship, and other damages caused by this preventable tragedy.

Severe burn injuries may result when impacts rupture fuel systems and ignite fires, trapping victims inside vehicles. Because impaired drivers react too slowly to avoid severe collisions, these accidents often create fire hazards. Burn injuries require extensive medical treatment and can cause permanent scarring and disfigurement, leaving lifelong physical and emotional challenges.

Fighting Insurance Companies in Drunk Driving Cases

Insurance companies face unique challenges in drunk driving accident cases because their insureds committed criminal acts that caused serious harm. While drunk driving is a crime, it is generally treated as negligence rather than intentional conduct, meaning insurance coverage usually applies. Even so, insurers often look for ways to limit payouts.

Criminal conviction evidence is powerful since a DUI conviction proves negligence. Still, insurers may argue that test results were flawed, the driver was not impaired, or other factors caused the crash. Strong evidence from criminal and civil investigations is key to countering these defenses.

Punitive damages are common in drunk driving cases, but many policies exclude them. Victims can still pursue substantial compensatory damages, and coverage disputes may expand recovery when necessary.

Multiple insurance sources may be available, especially in catastrophic cases where damages exceed one policy’s limits. Identifying umbrella coverage, employer policies, or other benefits ensures victims access maximum compensation.

Settlement leverage is stronger in drunk driving claims because insurers know juries often award significant damages. This frequently leads to favorable settlements rather than risking costly jury verdicts.

What to Do After a Drunk Driving Accident

After a Mountain View drunk driving accident, you must do the following to protect your rights:

• Immediate medical care is critical after a drunk driving accident. These crashes often cause hidden but serious injuries such as brain trauma, internal bleeding, or spinal damage. Even if you feel stable, adrenaline can mask symptoms, making it essential to be evaluated by emergency medical personnel.
• Cooperating with law enforcement also strengthens your case. Officers conduct sobriety tests and chemical BAC tests, which are critical evidence in proving liability and supporting punitive damages. Provide clear, factual information, but avoid speculation or accepting blame at the scene.
• Documenting the accident can be invaluable if you can do so safely. Photos of vehicle damage, road conditions, or signs of intoxication like open containers or erratic driver behavior help preserve evidence. Still, prioritize your health before collecting details.
• Early legal representation makes a major difference. Our Mountain View drunk driving accident lawyers act quickly to preserve evidence, coordinate with criminal proceedings, and protect your rights during insurance interactions.
• Finally, secure copies of police reports and court records, as these criminal case materials often support your civil claims and maximize potential compensation.

The Legal Process for Drunk Driving Accident Claims

Criminal case coordination is often critical in drunk driving claims. Criminal proceedings can influence both the timeline and strategy of your civil case. A conviction provides strong evidence of liability, while dismissals or acquittals may complicate—but rarely eliminate—your right to pursue damages.

Preserving key evidence is another cornerstone of these cases. Toxicology reports, sobriety test results, officer observations, and witness statements all establish impairment and support claims for punitive damages. We take proactive steps to ensure this evidence is secured and available for civil proceedings.

Expert witnesses play an essential role in explaining complex issues. Toxicologists clarify BAC results, accident reconstruction specialists show how impairment caused the crash, and medical professionals connect injuries directly to the collision. Together, they provide a full picture of both liability and damages.

Preparing for punitive damages requires demonstrating egregious conduct such as extremely high BAC levels, prior DUI convictions, or court order violations. This evidence underscores the defendant’s disregard for public safety.

Finally, multi-party investigations may extend liability to bars, restaurants, social hosts, or employers. Identifying these additional parties ensures access to broader insurance coverage when drunk drivers lack sufficient resources.

Why Mountain View Drunk Driving Accident Victims Choose Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos

When a drunk driver in Mountain View hurts you, you deserve a law firm that understands both the legal challenges and the emotional impact of such a preventable tragedy. At Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos, we provide personalized representation built around your needs.

Our attorneys carefully investigate every detail, from the driver’s conduct to whether bars, employers, or social hosts share responsibility. This approach often uncovers additional sources of compensation beyond the driver.

We build strong cases for punitive damages to hold reckless behavior accountable. Our proven record in drunk driving cases has secured major settlements and verdicts, helping clients access medical care, financial stability, and justice. We pair compassion with aggressive advocacy, standing beside you every step of the way to hold all responsible parties fully accountable.

Your Justice Deserves Dedicated Legal Advocacy

Being hit by a drunk driver is devastating because it results from a reckless choice, not an unavoidable accident. Knowing your injuries may have been prevented often adds emotional pain to the physical suffering. If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver, call a lawyer as soon as possible.

At Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos, our Mountain View personal injury attorneys are committed to securing justice and holding drunk drivers fully accountable. Compensation can cover medical care, lost income, and provide a sense of justice, while punitive damages may deter future misconduct. Call (650) 345-8484 or contact us online for a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

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