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You’ve likely heard the saying since middle school: “Don’t drink and drive”. That’s because driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs greatly influences your ability to drive safely. Driving under the influence doesn’t just affect the people who are driving drunk or high. The people it affects most are the innocent victims who have their lives turned upside down in an instant.
The injury attorneys at Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm in Phoenix have significant experience in helping clients who have been victims of DUI accidents. If you need help filing a claim for one of these awful, life changing accidents, we are here to help you get the compensation you deserve. Our offices are conveniently located in Chandler, Peoria, and North Phoenix, and we can meet in-person or over the phone or video call. You can contact us for a free consultation, or read on to find out more.
By the way, we will also help with other problems that have cost you sleep, like getting a rental car very soon and finding a nearby doctor or psychiatrist who can help get your life back on track. Even the best legal team isn’t good enough if your quality of life isn’t sustainable while justice and compensation are on the way. The whole point of legal action is to regain quality of life, so we help you long-term as attorneys and short-term as your go-to people. Our familiarity with the local Phoenix courts makes us confident that we can help you get the best settlement possible.
If you are unsure whether or not you can afford an attorney, don’t worry. We only get paid when you settle. Check out our Attorney Fees Calculator to find out more.
“After I was hit by a hit and run drunk driver this May I contacted… [Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm] and it was the best decision I made. This was my first experience dealing with a law suit and the process was well handled by her team and fast thanks to… [Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm]. I would definitely use them again if needed and recommend them to anybody I know who needs representation.” – Jonas Hill (Read this Review on Google)
“After being hit this May by a hit and run drunk driver and injured I called… [Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm]. They were very professional and easy to work with. My case moved fast and I would definitely use them again if needed.” – Jay H. (Read this Review on Yelp)
Here are some of the most common questions we get about DUI accidents, or you can read on to find out more information.
What kinds of punishments do drunk drivers get after a DUI accident?
How can a criminal court help pay for my injuries with restitution?
I was a DUI victim. What are my rights, and what laws protect me?
How can I calculate the costs of being hit by a drunk driver?
How do I recover after being hit by a drunk driver?
What are the penalties for driving under the influence?
How can I recover mentally after being hit by a drunk driver?
My relative was killed in a drunk driving accident. What can I do?
Is a bar responsible for drivers who drive drunk?
What are my injuries after a DUI accident? Do I have a brain injury?
I was hit by a drunk driver. How can I prepare to be in court?
What are the differences between civil and criminal court for a DUI victim?
How do I testify against the drunk driver that hit me?
How can my insurance help if I have been hit by a drunk driver?
Is over-serving someone a crime in Arizona?
How is the value of a fatal car accident determined?
Is drowsy driving the same as drunk driving?
How do I find out the BAC of the drunk driver who hit me?
What do I do if the person who hit me was taking prescription drugs?
What is the value of a fatal drunk driving accident?
Arizona law makes it unlawful for a person to “drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle”…
Driving under any of these conditions is considered driving under the influence, or DUI.
The big difference is that driving under the influence breaks the law in Arizona. When you are the victim of a DUI accident, and you file a claim, you are filing a claim for a criminal case. You will have a criminal case against the driver, and perhaps a case against the bar that served them.
This is different than other accidents, like a rear-end, freeway, illegal left turn, or head-on collision. While these types of accidents are certainly dangerous and traumatizing for the victim, they are civil cases rather than criminal ones. In these scenarios, the at-fault driver placed others in danger because of their negligent actions, or through distracted driving. However, they did not break Arizona law to do so.
In other words, the at-fault drivers in those accidents will face a fine for damaging your property and injuring you. The at-fault driver in a DUI case faces jail time, fines, as well as other punishments for breaking the law. This is why people who are driving under the influence are more likely to commit a hit-and-run accident; they have more motive not to be caught.
A person convicted of driving under the influence for the first time…
If a person is convicted of driving under the influence for a second time within 84 months of the first conviction (or under certain other circumstances), the person…
“Extreme” DUI is the condition of having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more (i.e., about twice the legal limit or higher) within two hours of driving or being in control of a vehicle.
A person who commits extreme DUI…
A driver who has a second extreme DUI conviction within 84 months of the first one…
Aggravated DUI occurs when a person…
A person convicted of aggravated DUI…
Of the 129,750 car crashes in Arizona in 2019, 4,907 of them were drunk driving accidents, which accounts for nearly 4%. Of those, 85% occurred in Maricopa County.
Let’s talk about this in terms of beer. Everyone’s tolerance is different, but generally speaking, 2 beers puts you at a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.04- half the legal limit. Let’s say you have 2 more beers to put your BAC at 0.08 (the legal limit). At this point, a driver is 11 times more likely to get into a crash than a person not driving under the influence.
Let’s have 2 more beers- a 6 pack. Your BAC is now at least 0.10, and you are 48 times more likely to crash than someone who hasn’t drank.
You’ve had a 6 pack already- say you have 2 more beers. Your BAC is now approximately 0.15, you are 380 times more likely to have an accident than someone not driving under the influence, and if you drive you are committing extreme DUI.
Arizona is a no tolerance, or 0 tolerance, state for DUI offenses. This means that you can be arrested for having a BAC of less than 0.08, particularly if you are driving recklessly.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Arizona
Will I Have to Appear In Court?
Chances are very low that you will have to appear in court. Even though driving under the influence is a criminal case, rather than a civil case like trucking accidents, and t-bone crashes, most cases are settled by a plea bargain. We try to settle every case out of court to save our clients time, money, and effort. On the extremely rare occasion that you will have to appear in court, we will help prepare you.
What Rights do I Have as the Victim of a DUI?
As the victim of a crime, you have the rights to Safety, Knowledge, and Due Process.
Safety
As a victim of a crime in Arizona, you have the right to:
Knowledge
As a victim of a crime in Arizona, you have the right to be informed:
Due Process:
As a victim of a crime in Arizona, you have the right to participate in the criminal justice process, which includes the ability to:
You have the right to request:
What Is Arizona’s Process for a DUI Case?
For most DUI cases, the process is as follows. If you have been in a hit-and-run accident, there will be a search for the at-fault driver prior to these steps:
Get Help Now
At Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you, we have more than 15 years of experience helping clients obtain compensation for their personal injuries from DUI accidents in the Phoenix area. When you’re ready to talk, please contact our office to arrange a free initial consultation by phone or at our Chandler office, conveniently located near you.
If you have been in a DUI accident, contact Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm in nearby Chandler, AZ to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. We provide personal injury legal services to clients in your area including Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Peoria.
North Phoenix Office
2550 W. Union Hills Drive, Suite 350
Phoenix, AZ 85027
We help injury victims across Greater Phoenix get the legal support they need, including in Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Tempe, Queen Creek, Glendale, and Peoria.
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