Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Woonsocket

When someone else’s irresponsible behavior leads to life-changing consequences for you or your family, you have every right to be angry and to demand justice. At Gemma Law, our team gets results for victims.

By working with a drunk driving accident lawyer in Woonsocket, you minimize the risk of not getting the critical legal support you need in these challenging cases. Request a free consultation now with a Woonsocket car accident lawyer. We have over 100 years of combined experience.

Why You Need a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Woonsocket

Drunk driving accidents happen at alarming rates throughout Rhode Island, including in the downtown area, where clubs, restaurants, and some sporting venues make alcohol so accessible. After a drunk driving accident, the benefits of hiring an accident attorney have everything to do with helping you recover financially. Here is why legal representation matters:

• A criminal charge and conviction do nothing for you. Even if the driver faces jail time, that does nothing to help you recover your losses. Our team changes that.
• Seeking legal action may be more complex than just filing a claim with the at-fault party. We may also need to seek third parties who are also at fault to recover fair compensation for you.
• Your losses are tremendous, and you deserve to have a lawyer who will provide careful, critical resources for you.

For over 50 years, Gemma Law has helped victims hold those who hurt them accountable to the fullest level allowed by law. Our award-winning, recognized attorneys are aggressive defenders of your rights. You pay our Woonsocket personal injury lawyer nothing up front for our services.

Who Is Responsible for Your Drunk Driving Accident

One of the most important reasons to turn to an attorney after an accident with serious injuries is the need to seek action against more than one party. If the drunk driver does not have enough insurance coverage, it may be possible to seek claims against others who contributed to their behavior and put you at risk. Other liable parties may include:

• Bars
• Restaurants serving alcohol
• Nightclubs
• Social hosts, such as someone hosting a party at a rented space or their home

That is not always a legal option, but when it is, it can mean you have access to more financial support after a drunk driver causes serious injuries and losses. Even if the driver who struck you did not have enough insurance to cover your losses, we encourage you to set up a free consultation with us to go over your rights to seek these actions.

Understanding Rhode Island Dram Shop Laws

In these situations, we apply the concept of dram shop liability, which falls under Rhode Island General Statutes § 3-14-6 and § 3-14-7. These laws allow you to seek action against a third party that knowingly contributed to the intoxication of others. This may include a local bar or nightclub that over-served a patron, or someone at a private event providing alcohol to someone with obvious signs of intoxication, even knowing they were going to get into a vehicle to drive home.

In these situations, your lawyer must prove that negligence occurred, meaning they should have known or known the other party was intoxicated and still served them alcohol.  To demonstrate recklessness as required under these laws, we must show that the party encouraged the drinker to consume a significant amount of alcohol or served them so much alcohol that there was a risk of death from alcohol poisoning.

Special circumstances exist when a party provides alcohol to a person knowing they are under the age of 21. In these situations, the location is responsible for the actions of that underage driver and may be held accountable for the damages they cause to others. This can also apply in social relationships, such as adults serving minors alcohol at a party.

How We Prove Liability in a Drunk Driving Accident

In all situations, it is our duty as your attorney to investigate and gather as much information as possible about what occurred and who was responsible. The more evidence we have, the harder it is for insurance companies to refute your claims. Some evidence we may seek includes:

• Video surveillance footage showing what occurred
• Witness statements that correlate with the person displaying drunken signs, such as stumbling or slurring words
• Receipts from bars or restaurants demonstrating how much the person was served
• Medical reports documenting the amount of alcohol consumed
• Previous drunk driving charges

Expect our legal team to seek evidence from all possible locations. Even if police accuse and convict someone of drunk driving, this data is essential for demonstrating dram shop liability.

What Your Drunk Driving Accident Claim May Be Worth

We build a strong claim for you that incorporates all the losses you have. Every case is different. However, your rights may include seeking:

• All expenses related to medical treatment and physical rehabilitation
• Loss of income if you cannot work because of your injuries
• Physical pain and emotional suffering
• Loss of future earning capacity if you have long-term disabilities
• Costs for long-term care and support if you have long-term disabilities
• Impact on your quality of life, including due to visible disfigurements
• Costs to repair or replace your vehicle

Analyzing your current and future losses is one of the most important ways for our drunk driving accident attorney in Woonsocket to build your case. You can expect us to be dedicated to building a strong claim, one that outlines all losses you have to the fullest extent allowed under the law. We do not hold back but seek comprehensive support.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Woonsocket Drunk Driving Accident Attorney

Discuss your case with our team today. At Gemma Law, we work hard to secure maximum compensation for you, allowing you to move forward with your life in the best possible way.

Our Woonsocket drunk driving accident lawyer is your advocate through these challenging matters. Request a free, no-obligation consultation with us now.