New Hampshire Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers
Personalized Representation for the Injured in New England
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Nearly 6 million car crashes occur in the United States every year, and the sad part is that most of them are preventable because they’re caused by human error. One of the most common examples of driver negligence is drunk driving. According to the NHTSA, about 28 people in the U.S. die in drunk driving crashes every day, and in 2019 alone, more than 10,000 people lost their lives.
If you or someone you love was injured by a drunk driver, you deserve justice. No one should have to suffer because of another person’s mistake. Wyskiel, Boc, Tillinghast & Bolduc, P.A. has successfully handled personal injury claims for clients throughout New England since 1987 and our New Hampshire drunk driving accident lawyers are available to meet with you personally to learn more about your needs and the compensation you’re entitled to.
Allow us to fight on your behalf for your rights to compensation after serious injury—contact our team today online or call (603) 742-5222. We serve clients throughout New England (not just in New Hampshire!)
New Hampshire’s Drunk Driving Laws
New Hampshire has distinct DWI (driving while intoxicated) laws in place that prohibit operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or more. The BAC limit is set to .04% for commercial drivers and .02% for drivers under the age of 21. It’s also illegal to drive a car while under the influence of any natural or synthetic substance that impairs a driver’s ability to drive. Those who are found guilty can receive a number of penalties, including jail time, fines, and license revocation.
These laws establish that drunk driving is a form of negligent driving. If you can prove that the driver who caused your accident and injuries was drunk, or if they were arrested and charged for drunk driving, you’re eligible to file a personal injury claim against them and recover compensation.
How Drunk Driving Contributes to Car Accidents
As a substance, alcohol impairs your brain and body in a number of ways, such as by reducing your brain’s function, impacting your muscle coordination, and impairing your ability to reason and make decisions. All of this can prevent you from being alert and able to quickly adapt to emergencies and sudden changes on the road, which can increase your chances of causing a car accident.
Some ways our lawyers have seen drunk driving contribute to car accidents and injuries include:
- Fatigue: Alcohol can make people sleepy, which can be dangerous when someone gets behind the wheel. Fatigue can lead to a driver drifting over into other lanes or opposing traffic without realizing it, failing to notice important traffic signals, and even causing people to fall asleep at the wheel and lost control of their vehicles.
- Slow reaction times: Because alcohol slows down the brain, drunk drivers take a longer time to notice and respond to things like red lights or a vehicle merging in front of them. Many rear-end accidents occur when drunk drivers don’t brake in time before colliding with the vehicles in front of them.
- Risky behaviors: Alcohol can also make people impulsive and more likely to make risky decisions, which can be devastating on the road when a driver is operating a 3,000-pound vehicle. Some examples of risky behavior on the road include speeding, driving through red lights and stop signs, and merging or changing lanes suddenly without signaling.
Drunk driving can cause serious injuries like brain damage, paralysis, amputations, and broken bones, as well as contribute to a lot of property damage. If you suspect a driver is drunk on the road, it’s important to give them space (don’t try to pass them) and report them to the authorities so they don’t put others in harm’s way.
Damages Our Team Can Recover
Though drunk drivers can answer for their illegal activity by being jailed or fined, victims who have been injured by their negligence must file personal injury claims if they wish to obtain compensation from them to pay for their damages. Our lawyers have years of experience settling injury claims and resources thanks to the time we’ve spent in our community.
With our help, we can recover the following damages for you:
- Lost wages or income
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emergency medical bills
- Future costs of medical care
We understand how painful and traumatic this time may be for you and work hard so our clients can relax and focus on healing.
Our firm has 30+ years of experience holding negligent drivers responsible. If you’ve been harmed, call our New Hampshire drunk driving accident lawyers today at (603) 742-5222 for a free consultation.