The Kitay Law Firm Pursues Justice for the Victims of Drunk Drivers

How prevalent are drunk driving crashes?

If you have been injured or a family member has been killed in a drunk driving accident, you are not alone.

Every minute, someone in the United States is injured in an alcohol-related crash, and every 50 minutes someone dies in one. One in five drivers has driven drunk in the past year, according to a national survey, and the average person arrested for DUI has driven drunk 80 times before being caught. One out of every three people will someday be involved in a drunk driving accident.

A family member was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver. What should my family do?
The tragedy of a premature and unexpected death of a family member is compounded by the knowledge that it wouldn't have happened if an irresponsible person had not decided to get behind the wheel drunk. On top of the grief and anguish you are suffering from the loss, the financial repercussions can be tremendous. Final expenses and loss of the person's financial support can destroy a family's security. Nothing will bring back your loved one, but recovering damages in a court of law is one way you can stem your family's losses and hold the wrongdoer accountable. Undertaking a wrongful death action may be more than you feel up to dealing with in this time of mourning. Having an experienced wrongful death attorney in your corner can relieve you of the burden and allow you to attend to the needs of your family and take the time you need to heal from your loss.

The other driver was cited for DUI. Does that mean I'll be compensated?

Driving under the influence is a crime in all fifty states. But the victim of an alcohol-related accident cannot expect justice based on the criminal or administrative consequences to the driver. To recover damages caused by a drunk driving crash requires making a claim against the driver and showing that the driver's negligence was the proximate cause of your injury or loss, and that you actually suffered damages.

Do I need a lawyer, or can I settle with the other driver's insurance company myself?

It is your right to negotiate a settlement directly with the at-fault driver's insurance company. But you should understand that the insurance adjuster who seems so friendly and sympathetic and promises to treat you fairly is not your friend. The adjuster is employed by the insurance company for the sole purpose of keeping their payment on your case to a bare minimum. It has been estimated that accident victims who negotiate their own settlement receive only about a third of the recovery of those represented by an experienced personal injury lawyer.
If you have been injured or a family member has been killed by the negligence of a drunk driver in the North County cities of Vista, Oceanside, San Marcos, Carlsbad and Escondido, you are entitled to fair compensation for your damages. Don't cheat yourself by making a mistake in dealing with insurance company representatives. Before making any statements or signing any papers, consult the attorneys at the Kitay law firm first. You pay nothing unless you win.
We have pursued justice on behalf of the victims of drunk drivers for more than 20 years. Call us today for a free consultation. We hold drunk drivers accountable and make them pay.