Drunk Driving Accidents

New Hampshire Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

Personalized Representation for the Injured in New England

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.

Our Personal Injury Lawyers

Serving NH, ME, MA, & VT

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.

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FAQ

Common Answers To Your Questions

Have questions? We are here to help. Still have questions or can't find the answer you need? Give us a call at 603-742-5222 today!

  • Do I have to pay to meet with an attorney first before I commit?

    No. Our law firm offers free case evaluations to everyone in New Hampshire and throughout New England—it costs you nothing to meet with us to learn more about how lawyers and so we can learn more about you and your case.

  • What do I do after an accident?

    If you’ve been injured in an accident, whether it’s a car crash or after slipping on a wet surface, your priority should be getting medical attention for your injuries—even if your injuries are minor or you’re not feeling any immediate pain. From there, we recommend documenting as much of your accident as possible, from taking photos of the property damage to gathering witness contact information, and then calling our firm to get started on your case. We can begin investigating your accident quickly to ensure important evidence doesn’t disappear over time.

  • How is a wrongful death claim different from a personal injury claim?

    Victims of accidents who survive can file personal injury claims, but when they die in their accidents or later pass away from their injuries, their surviving family members or those who were financially dependent on them can file wrongful death claims. Wrongful death claims can recover most of the damages that personal injury claims recover, including medical bills, lost wages, and property damage, but they can also recover some of the damages the family members incurred, including funeral and burial bills and loss of companionship.

  • What should I say if an insurance adjuster calls me?

    Shortly after an accident, you may receive a phone call from an insurance adjuster. While they may sound nice and say they simply want to understand what happened, insurance adjusters often try to coax certain statements from you so they can limit the amount of liability that falls on their insured. It’s important to get legal representation as soon as possible so your lawyer can handle these calls and you don’t have to risk saying something that may harm your case.

  • How long do I have to file my personal injury claim?

    It’s important for victims to know that they don’t have all the time in the world to file a personal injury lawsuit. The amount of time you have to file a claim depends on the state where the accident and injuries occurred. For example, New Hampshire’s statute of limitations is three years, meaning victims have three years from the date of injury to file a claim successfully. Hiring a personal injury attorney can be beneficial because they understand their state’s various laws, including those governing filing deadlines.