Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles continues to make strides in road safety, yet alcohol-related crashes remain a serious concern. Recent 2023 state data from the California Office of Traffic Safety shows that DUI-related accidents tragically claimed 1,355 lives. This figure, although representing a 4.5% decrease from 2022, still affects thousands of lives each year across California. When these incidents occur, victims have the right to seek compensation for the resulting damages, and trusted legal advocacy makes all the difference.

People often ask how a DUI injury claim works in California and whether punitive damages apply.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an impaired driving crash, take a step to hold reckless drunk drivers accountable with a reputable DUI attorney and ensure you don't settle for less.

To begin, simply contact (213) 214-0296 for a free consultation and discover how we can assist you.

A Los Angeles drinking and driving accident can alter your life’s trajectory in an instant. The physical pain of serious injuries from a DUI crash is often just the beginning. The financial stress of mounting medical bills and lost wages, combined with the emotional trauma of the crash, can be overwhelming. You may feel confused and uncertain about your next steps, but you are not alone.

Blair & Ramirez LLP proudly represents individuals and families injured by drunk drivers in Los Angeles. Our team of DUI-related crash lawyers helps clients pursue maximum compensation with legal clarity and confidence. Whether your case involves property damage, insurance complications, serious injury, or fatality, our goal is to protect your rights and hold liable parties financially and legally accountable.

A DUI lawyer’s primary role is to build a strong case and fight for the maximum compensation available under California law. Since a drunk driving case often involves high-value injuries and long-term expenses, disputed liability, victim blaming, and aggressive insurance tactics, it is usually legally complex to handle on your own. This makes having the right legal team matter from day one.

The moment you contact our lawyers, we begin by understanding your case. In your initial no-obligation consultation, we hear your experience and clarify your legal options moving forward.

Once on board, here’s what we do for your drunk driving injury case:

1. Investigate and Collect Evidence: We meticulously investigate the crash scene to gather, preserve, and analyze all available evidence, including police reports, BAC results, toxicology reports, and dashcam or surveillance footage.
2. Establish and Prove Negligence: We work to prove the drunk driver's negligence and recklessness, leveraging the verifiable evidence against them to build a winning case.
3. Consult Medical and Financial Experts: We collaborate with medical professionals to accurately calculate the full scope of your injuries and consult financial experts to determine the true value of lost wages, future earning potential, and other economic damages.
4. Negotiate with Insurers: We handle all communications with insurance adjusters from day one, countering their lowball offers with documented proof of your losses and damages.
5. Prepare for and Pursue Trial: If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we are fully prepared to take your case to trial. Our car accident lawyers will litigate a compelling case to a jury to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
6. Recover Maximum Compensation: Our ultimate objective is to recover a legally fair settlement that covers all your immediate expenses and future damages, including pain, suffering, and emotional distress.

Whether you're negotiating a DUI car accident settlement right after the incident or preparing a civil lawsuit against the reckless driver, we handle it with trial-ready skill, urgency, and strategy.

In Los Angeles, accident victims can recover various forms of compensation for the consequent harm. This includes monetary and emotional damages, along with potential punitive damages. Punitive damages may apply where the driver acted with malice or a conscious disregard for safety, such as driving under the influence.

Here is a breakdown of the common types of drunk driving accident damages attorneys can recover for you:

If you’ve lost a loved one to drunk driving, consult a wrongful death DUI lawyer in Los Angeles to pursue survivor benefits, funeral costs, and loss of financial support.

Settlement amounts in alcohol-related driving crash cases vary significantly, from tens of thousands to millions of dollars, depending entirely on the unique details of each case.

While there isn't a single "average" settlement for a drunk driving accident in Los Angeles, the average DUI accident settlement in California can range from anywhere between $10,000 and $125,000.

Settlements differ greatly and are influenced by several critical factors, such as:

• Severity of injuries and long-term medical needs
• Total medical expenses and future treatment projections
• Lost wages and reduced earning potential
• Pain, suffering, and emotional trauma
• Level of driver intoxication and BAC result
• Comparative fault on the victim’s side (if any)
• Insurance policy limits

To understand the potential value of your claim based on your specific situation, try our Personal Injury Settlement Calculator.

In California, you typically have 2 years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit after a DUI accident. If you're filing for property damage only, the deadline is extended to 3 years.

While these deadlines are strict, there are some exceptions:

• Wrongful Death Cases: 2 years from the date of the victim’s passing.
• Minors Injured in the DUI Crash: Have 2 years after turning 18 (until age 20). This "tolling" means the 2-year clock doesn't start until the minor reaches 18.
• Delayed Discovery of Injuries: In limited situations, the deadline may run from the time you knew or should have reasonably known that the accident resulted in your injuries.

However, even with this extended period, defendants still benefit from the protections offered by the DUI injury statute of limitations. If you miss filing claims within these mandatory legal timelines, the court will likely dismiss your case entirely.

Yes, you can sue some third parties in addition to the drunk driver, depending on the specific circumstances. While the intoxicated driver is the primary at-fault party, their reckless actions can sometimes be traced back to other entities that contributed to the crash. This often applies in situations of third-party DUI liability, including:

• Bars or Restaurants: Claims are generally barred for serving adults, but liability may exist for serving an obviously intoxicated minor
• Employers: Can be held responsible if the driver on duty or driving a company vehicle causes the DUI crash
• Rideshare Companies: May share fault for negligent hiring or failing to act on prior alcohol-related Uber accidents

Your actions after a drunk driving crash directly impact both your health and your legal case. Follow this quick checklist of essential steps after a drunk driving accident to protect yourself and strengthen your claim.

1. Call 911 Immediately: Report the DUI crash and request police and medical assistance.
2. Document the Scene: Take photos of vehicles, injuries, road conditions, and visible damage.
3. Collect Witness Information: Get names, phone numbers, and statements while details are fresh.
4. Seek Medical Care: Even minor injuries should be checked; some symptoms appear later.
5. Send Written Preservation Requests: To secure dashcam footage, nearby business surveillance, and vehicle event data recorder (EDR) data as soon as possible, before it is overwritten.
6. Avoid insurer discussions: Don’t admit fault or accept quick settlements without legal advice.
7. Contact a DUI accident lawyer: A skilled attorney guides your drunk driver accident response and protects your rights.

Take these steps after a DUI crash now, and then call our firm to get the legal representation you need.

The maximum insurance settlement for a drunk driving accident depends on multiple factors, including a correct injury valuation, evidence strength, and how the case is presented to the insurers. Our Los Angeles DUI accident lawyers begin building the strongest possible settlement case from the outset by handling the following tasks on your behalf:

• Building a Strong and Comprehensive Case: Securing admissible BAC evidence, gathering medical and financial proof, and strategically documenting non-economic losses.
• Establishing Clear Liability: Determining fault through investigation and evidence, minimizing any assigned fault to you under comparative laws.
• Negotiating Aggressively with Insurers: Battling bad faith tactics, reviewing policy limits, and countering lowball offers with a litigation-ready approach.
• Seeking Additional and Punitive Damages: Demanding larger awards when the driver acted with gross negligence, fully documenting pain, suffering, and loss of quality of life with medical and expert support.

Drunk driving injury victims deserve proven results, not empty promises. At Blair & Ramirez LLP, our Los Angeles car accident lawyers have secured multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements in DUI collision cases by combining resources, trial experience, and a client-first approach.

We work with reports from the Los Angeles Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and Los Angeles Superior Court records when building DUI injury cases. From day one, you’ll work directly with our award-winning attorneys, not just legal assistants.

Here’s why clients trust our DUI accident representation:

• Proven Results: We have secured significant settlements for California accident victims, including those with DUI injuries.
• Award-Winning Team: Recognized by Super Lawyers, Avvo 10.0 Superb, and Lead Counsel Rated for excellence
• Skilled Trial Lawyers: A team of negotiators and litigators ready to fight insurers in court
• Case Investigation Resources: Access to crash reconstructionists, medical experts, and forensic specialists
• Local Knowledge: Familiarity with Los Angeles traffic laws, statutes of limitation, and local court procedures
• Client-First Approach: Contingency fee structure and no car accident lawyer cost unless we win the case
• Accessible Representation: 24/7 support and transparent communication at every stage