Drunk driving crashes frequently produce catastrophic injuries. The impaired driver typically has not slowed down, braked, or taken any evasive action before impact, resulting in full-speed or near-full-speed collisions that cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, internal injuries, severe burns, and wrongful death. Cellino Law pursues compensation for every one of these injuries with the determination these cases demand.
Call Cellino Law today for a free drunk driving accident consultation. There are no fees unless we win.
What Constitutes Drunk Driving?
All three states set the legal blood alcohol content limit at 0.08% for standard drivers. Commercial vehicle drivers face a lower limit of 0.04%, and drivers under 21 are subject to zero-tolerance laws with significantly lower thresholds. In addition to per se DUI offenses based on BAC, all three states also allow law enforcement to charge a driver with DUI based on observed impairment even when BAC falls below the legal limit.
Alcohol is not the only substance that can form the basis of an impaired driving charge. Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, marijuana, and controlled substances can all impair a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. Cellino Law pursues civil liability against impaired drivers regardless of which substance caused their impairment.
Dram Shop Liability: When Bars and Restaurants Are Also Responsible
Beyond the impaired driver, the establishments that served them may also bear civil liability. All three states Cellino Law operates in have dram shop laws that create liability for alcohol vendors who serve visibly intoxicated individuals or serve alcohol to minors who then cause accidents.
In New York, the Dram Shop Act allows injury victims to pursue claims against any vendor who unlawfully sold alcohol to an intoxicated person or a minor. New Jersey’s Licensed Alcoholic Beverage Server Liability Act creates similar liability for licensed establishments. Connecticut also has dram shop liability statutes applicable to licensed sellers. Cellino Law evaluates every drunk driving case for potential third-party dram shop claims from the outset.
Common Injuries in Drunk Driving Accidents
- Traumatic brain injuries and skull fractures
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Broken bones, including femur, pelvis, ribs, and extremity fractures
- Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
- Burns and road rash
- Soft tissue injuries and whiplash
- Psychological trauma including PTSD
- Wrongful death
Injured by a drunk driver? Contact Cellino Law now for a free case evaluation.
Civil Claims vs. Criminal Charges: What You Need to Know
A drunk driving incident often triggers both a criminal prosecution by the government and a civil personal injury claim by the victim. These are separate proceedings with different standards of proof. A criminal conviction for DUI or DWI is powerful evidence in your civil case, but your civil claim does not depend on the outcome of the criminal case. Even if the drunk driver avoids criminal conviction, Cellino Law can still pursue and win your civil compensation claim.
Victims do not need to wait for the criminal case to conclude before pursuing their civil claim. In fact, moving quickly is important — evidence preservation, insurance deadlines, and statutes of limitations all create time pressure from the moment the accident occurs. Contact Cellino Law immediately after any drunk driving accident.
What Compensation Can Drunk Driving Accident Victims Recover?
- Medical expenses from emergency care through long-term rehabilitation
- Future medical costs for ongoing or permanent injuries
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering and emotional distress
- Property damage
- Punitive damages, which may be available in drunk driving cases given the egregious nature of the conduct
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
Drunk driving cases are among those most likely to support punitive damages — compensation intended not just to compensate the victim but to punish and deter the conduct. Cellino Law pursues punitive damages in every drunk driving case where the facts support them.
How Drunk Driving Accident Law Varies by State
Cellino Law serves clients in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, and certain legal rules governing drunk driving accident claims differ across all three states. Visit our New York page, our New Jersey page, or our Connecticut page for state-specific legal information, or contact Cellino Law directly for a free case evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Drunk Driving Accident Claims
Can I sue the bar or restaurant that served the drunk driver?
Yes, in many circumstances. New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut all have dram shop laws that allow victims to pursue civil claims against establishments that served alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals or to minors who then caused accidents. Cellino Law evaluates the facts of your case to identify every liable party, including any alcohol-serving establishment involved.
What if the drunk driver has no or minimal insurance?
All three states require uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. If the drunk driver is uninsured or their coverage is insufficient, Cellino Law will pursue compensation through your own UM/UIM coverage and identify every other potentially liable party, including dram shop defendants. We leave no available source of recovery unexplored.
Does Cellino Law charge upfront fees for drunk driving accident cases?
No. Cellino Law handles all drunk driving accident cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs and no legal fees unless we win. Your initial consultation is free.
Contact Cellino Law for Drunk Driving Accident Representation Today
If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver anywhere in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, Cellino Law is ready to help. Call today for a free consultation. Visit our New York page, our New Jersey page, or our Connecticut page for state-specific legal information and office locations near you.
Call Cellino Law today to schedule your free drunk driving accident consultation. Trust. Experience. Results.
