Gatlinburg DUI Accident Lawyer
Drunk driving is completely preventable and yet, according to the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, 26 percent of all traffic fatalities in Tennessee are caused by an alcohol-impaired driver. Even when a crash doesn’t result in death, the consequences of an alcohol-related traffic incident can be devastating and long-lasting for those injured. If you or a family member has been hit by a drunk driver, you need to seek financial compensation. Contact a Gatlinburg DUI accident lawyer at Fox, Farley, Willis & Burnette for professional, experienced, and aggressive representation.
Tennessee DUI Law
In the United States, an adult driver who has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above .08 percent is driving illegally. For drivers under the age of 21 there is zero-tolerance and they will receive a DUI for a BAC above .02 percent. Driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal because alcohol affects a person’s reaction time, hearing, balance, memory, peripheral vision, motor coordination, and more.
Drunk Drivers Cause Serious Damage on the Road
If you have been hit by a drunk driver you deserve to be compensated for your losses. When filing a claim with an insurance company it is important to provide them with a full scope of the damages. It is also important to investigate where the alcohol came from. If the drunk driver consumed alcohol from a bar or other public venue, the commercial servers may also be liable. At Fox, Farley, Willis & Burnette, our dedicated lawyers will work on your behalf to receive compensation for the following:
- Vehicle and property damage;
- Ambulance and hospital bills;
- Future medical bills and rehabilitation;
- Pain and suffering;
- Permanent disability;
- Loss of quality of life; and
- Lost wages.
If your family member was killed in a crash involving a drunk driver, you may file a wrongful death claim. Wrongful death claims will help compensate for the following:
- Medical expenses;
- Funeral costs;
- Loss of companionship;
- Pain and suffering; and
- Lost income from the deceased.
In Tennessee it is also possible to recover compensation for punitive damages in a DUI case. As per Tennessee Code 29-39-104 , punitive damages are noneconomic awards that are awarded to a person if the liable party can be proven to have acted, “maliciously, intentionally, fraudulently or recklessly”. Driving drunk is considered reckless. Punitive damages can be up to $500,000 or twice the amount of the compensation received.
The Personal Injury Lawyers At Fox, Farley, Willis & Burnette are Here to Help You
When you got in the car, you had plans; perhaps you were going to work or to visit family. Being hit by a drunk driver destroys all of those plans and more. At Fox, Farley, Willis & Burnette we understand how overwhelming a car crash can be, both physically and emotionally. While you focus on recovering, place your trust in our lawyers. Insurance companies will do whatever they can to avoid paying claims, even when the driver had a DUI. We will fight aggressively on your behalf to get you the best compensation possible for your case. Contact our Gatlinburg location for a free initial consultation with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers.
