Phillips Personal Injury: Truckee DUI Accident Injury Lawyers

AVVO Rated "10" Superb & "Clients' Choice" / Better Business Bureau A+ Rating

Lets be real, insurance companies are not on your side. The less money they hand you, the more money they make. If an adjuster betrays your trust, if they “low ball” a settlement offer to you, if they try and minimize your injury, they don't get reprimanded. They get rewarded…

No matter what the commercials say, and no matter how friendly the adjuster on the phone may appear, it is their job to shortchange you. I've never met an adjuster or insurance defense lawyer who wears a white apron and a name tag. There is no such device as a "name your price tool." Their real tools are weapons: databases, delay tactics, distortions & confusion.

Drunk driving is against the law and clearly dangerous. The drunk driver’s insurance company may offer to settle your claim quickly if it accepts that its policyholder was at fault for the accident. However, you should never accept a settlement without first consulting with an experienced Truckee drunk driving accident attorney. Insurance adjusters always have the insurance company’s best interests at heart. They will make a low-ball offer that does not cover all your losses to make your claim go away as cheaply as possible.

At the Phillips Law Offices we’re on your side and we treat our clients like family, not claim numbers. We are experienced and knowledgeable in fighting for our clients injured in car crashes in helping them obtain full and fair compensation for their injury. We offer free consultations, so its costs you nothing to learn what your rights and options are. Call us today.

530-265-0186

Do not rely on insurance companies to do the right thing...

Unfortunately, oftentimes when victims are injured by drunk drivers it is difficult to obtain full and fair compensation for their injuries, both present and future. However, we have the experience it takes to navigate complex insurance issues in Truckee drunk driving accidents.

It is not uncommon that a drunk driver does not have any car insurance because of a suspended license and prior DUIs. In California, drivers are required to have a minimum amount of liability coverage. This includes $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident coverage. Even if the DUI driver even has liability insurance this minimal amount is insufficient. Hopefully, the DUI victim has uninsured or under-insured insurance coverage (UIM /UM coverage) However, just because you are covered by your own insurance does not mean your insurance company will be willing to pay you for the full extent of your damages. At Phillips Personal Injury, we can help with all your insurance coverage issues stemming from the DUI accident, so your are fully and fairly compensated for your injuries.

It is important to remember that insurance adjusters will contact the injured party as soon as possible after an accident. They will present themselves as a friend of the injured person or family. However, their ultimate goal is to settle the case for the least amount possible, before the injured party learns of their rights by speaking to a Truckee drunk driving accident lawyer. Unfortunately, for some insurance companies their approach is "low-ball” legitimate claims to maximize their profits. That is why it is always a good idea to speak with a Truckee drunk driving injury attorney before agreeing to be interviewed or providing any medical and private information. We do not charge for initial consultations and are happy to chat and answer any questions you may have.

530-265-0186

Injured by a Truckee DUI Driver: Damages and what you need to know

Nearly 1 out of every 3 traffic fatalities in the U.S. involve a driver under the influence of alcohol. However, increasingly, impaired driver accidents are not limited to alcohol. More drivers are getting behind the wheel under the influence of marijuana, prescription painkillers, illegal narcotics, or a combination of drugs and alcohol.

Drivers under the influence are more likely to be involved in an accident than sober drivers. Drugs and alcohol can slow down a driver’s reaction time, impair judgment, alter motor function, and impair the driver’s sense of depth perception. This can lead to speeding, driving the wrong way, crossing over the center median, failing to abide by traffic signals, and other forms of reckless driving.

A vehicle accident, caused by a Truckee impaired driver is different than any other type of vehicle accident because drunk driving is against the law. So, there is almost always a criminal prosecution against the DUI driver. But many people don’t realize that the prosecutor represents the state and not the victim. The victim of a drunk driver needs to file a civil claim if they hope to obtain full and fair compensation for their injuries.

A civil suit for injury caused by a drunk driver is separate - and distinct from any criminal charges a drunk driver may face for the Truckee DUI. Criminal charges, filed by the district attorney, are designed to punish the drunk driver for acting in a reckless manner and to protect the public at large. However, a civil claim or lawsuit based on the injury caused by the DUI driver is filed by the victim of a drunk driver, or in the case of a fatality, filed by the victim’s family, to recover personal damages. The injured person may recover the costs of past and future medical treatment, past and future lost wages, and cost of any damaged property. Civil suits also offer the opportunity to recover non-economic damages, (what is commonly called "pain and suffering") which cannot be recovered in a criminal prosecution.

Most often these two cases will proceed side-by-side, so unlike some injury lawyers, we help our clients navigate both the criminal prosecution and civil injury claim. Questions? Just give us a call, we are more than glad to answer any questions you may have about a Truckee drunk driving accident.

530-265-0186