A DUI accident can change your life in seconds. Victims often face serious injuries, mounting medical expenses, and long recovery times. Worse, drunk drivers create dangers that no one else should have to pay for. That’s why victims need strong legal help.
Cefali & Cefali Personal Injury Lawyers fights for those hurt by drunk drivers in San Juan Capistrano and across Orange County. Our team of San Juan Capistrano accident attorney knows how to handle the legal side of DUI accidents, giving you the support you need. With the right DUI attorney by your side, you can seek the justice and money you deserve.
Drunk driving crashes often cause more damage than normal car accidents. When a driver is impaired, they cannot make safe choices, leading to greater harm for everyone on the road.
In a drunk driving crash, victims face a much higher risk of serious injuries like head trauma, spinal cord damage, or broken bones. The delayed reaction times and reckless choices from impaired drivers often cause violent impacts that change lives forever.
In southern California, DUI-related crashes sadly remain a leading cause of catastrophic injuries.
Even if the other driver faces criminal charges, insurance companies will still try to minimize what they pay you. They may claim your injuries are not as serious as you say or argue that you share blame for the crash. Having a tough DUI lawyer makes a huge difference when dealing with these tactics.
Handling a DUI accident claim takes more than just knowing the law.
An experienced DUI defense lawyer can guide you through every step, making sure your case is built properly and that you are protected against unfair tactics from insurance companies.
One of the first things your lawyer will do is look closely at what happened in the crash. They will gather important proof like police reports, videos, photos of the crash scene, and names of any witnesses who saw what happened.
Good proof can make a big difference between winning and losing your case. Your lawyer will also check if the police officer who arrested the drunk driver followed all the right steps because if the officer made mistakes, it could help your case even more.
To show that the other driver was drunk when the crash happened, your lawyer will collect blood alcohol test results, results from roadside tests, notes from the officer, and anything the driver said after the crash. They will use all this to prove the driver’s drinking caused your injuries.
Your lawyer might also bring in experts to explain how drunk driving caused the crash and made your injuries worse.
If the insurance company refuses to offer you fair money, your lawyer will file a personal injury claim or even a lawsuit for you. They will make sure everything is filed the right way and on time in court.
Filing a lawsuit can put more pressure on the other driver’s insurance company to take your injuries seriously. It also shows them that you are ready to fight for all the money you deserve under California DUI laws.
Because insurance companies are focused on paying as little as possible, your DUI attorney will negotiate hard on your behalf, using solid evidence and a strong case file to push for a settlement that covers all your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and any future expenses related to your injuries.
An experienced DUI defense lawyer who is not afraid to reject low offers can force the insurer to take your case seriously.
If no fair settlement can be reached, your lawyer will not hesitate to take your case to court, where they will present evidence, question witnesses, challenge the defense, and argue passionately on your behalf before the judge and jury, seeking the maximum amount of damages allowed under the law.
Having an experienced DUI lawyer at trial often gives injury victims a much better chance of securing full and fair compensation.
If you are hurt in a DUI accident in San Juan Capistrano, you may be entitled to many types of compensation under California law. These damages are meant to cover not just your medical bills, but also the lasting impact the crash has on your health, income, property, and emotional well-being.
A good DUI attorney will fight to make sure nothing is overlooked when pursuing your full recovery.
Medical costs after a DUI crash can quickly add up, even if your injuries seem minor at first, because ambulance rides, emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, prescription medications, physical therapy, and long-term treatment for chronic conditions can all become necessary parts of your recovery.
Your lawyer will help document all of these costs, including future medical care you may need due to the accident, ensuring that you are not stuck paying for injuries caused by someone else's drunk driving. Medical expenses often make up the largest part of a personal injury settlement or court award.
When a DUI crash keeps you from working, whether for a few days, several months, or permanently, you can seek money for both the paychecks you already missed and the income you will lose in the future if you can no longer perform your old job duties.
Lost promotions, bonuses, tips, and even opportunities for future career growth can be part of your lost wages claim, especially if your injuries prevent you from working in the same field again. Your DUI accident attorney will work with doctors and employment experts to show exactly how the crash affected your ability to earn.
Pain and suffering are non-economic damages, meaning they do not have a set dollar amount like a medical bill, but they are just as real, and they can impact every part of your daily life, from simple physical activities to relationships and emotional health.
After a DUI crash, you may experience ongoing physical pain, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, or a fear of driving, all of which deserve compensation. A skilled DUI lawyer will present detailed evidence of how the accident changed your life and fight for a fair amount to address the suffering you endure now and may continue to endure into the future.
In addition to your personal injuries, drunk drivers often cause significant damage to motor vehicles, including your car, truck, motorcycle, or even items inside your vehicle at the time of the crash. You are entitled to recover the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle, towing charges, rental car fees, and any lost value if your car cannot be restored to its previous condition.
Property damage claims are separate from injury claims, but they are important because the cost of a totaled or badly damaged vehicle can create major financial stress while you are trying to heal from your injuries.
In DUI accident cases, California courts may award punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages, especially if the drunk driver's behavior was extremely reckless, willful, or showed a blatant disregard for the safety of others.
Punitive damages are not meant to compensate you for your losses directly; instead, they are intended to punish the driver and send a strong message that drunk driving will not be tolerated. A qualified DUI accident attorney will know how to argue for punitive damages if the facts of your case support it, giving you a chance to secure even greater financial justice beyond your basic recovery needs.
DUI accident cases are different because the driver broke the law by drinking and driving, which can lead to criminal charges on top of your injury claim. A good DUI defense attorney knows how to handle both the injury side and the criminal case side. The driver might also face DUI penalties like jail time, a suspended license, and hefty fines. These facts make your claim stronger, and a lawyer can help you use the physical evidence to prove the driver was wrong.
If the drunk driver was behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle, the case can be even more serious because truck drivers and delivery drivers must follow stricter rules. A DUI accident attorney can check if the trucking company made mistakes too. Sometimes both the driver and the company can be held responsible. A lawyer with a proven track record in handling these cases will know how to find out who to sue and how to get you more money.
Yes, you can. Even if the driver is facing a felony conviction or has to attend a DMV hearing, you can still file a personal injury claim. Your case for damages is separate from their criminal defense case. A lawyer from experienced law offices will help you stay focused on your rights to money for your injuries, lost wages, and other losses while the drunk driver deals with their criminal case.
You should look for someone who has a real law degree, is recognized by groups like Super Lawyers or the National Trial Lawyers, and has real experience winning DUI cases. It also helps to choose someone who has strong legal professionals on their team to back them up. A lawyer with lots of wins handling reckless driving and DUI stops will know the best defense strategy to protect your case and fight for full compensation.
Most good DUI accident lawyers offer a free consultation, so you can talk to them about your client's case without paying anything upfront. If you decide to hire them, many work on a “no win, no fee” basis, which means they only get paid if they win your case. Getting legal assistance early can make a big difference when it comes to fighting insurance companies and getting the full money you deserve, whether you were hurt in Newport Beach, San Juan Capistrano, or anywhere else in Southern California.
If you were hurt because someone chose to drink and drive, you do not have to deal with this alone. At Cefali & Cefali Personal Injury Lawyers, we are here to help you understand your rights, guide you through the legal steps, and fight for the money you need to recover. We have the experience, the skills, and the heart to stand up to insurance companies and demand fair treatment for you.
We know you may be feeling hurt, stressed, and unsure of what to do next, but talking to a lawyer is simple and costs nothing. We offer a free consultation, so you can ask questions and get honest answers without worrying about paying anything upfront.
Let our team help you hold the drunk driver responsible, protect your future, and move forward with confidence. Call our San Juan Capistrano DUI accident attorneys today and let’s start working on your case together.
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