When a driver gets behind the wheel after drinking, they make a choice that puts everyone on the road in danger. If you are one of the people injured by this decision, you may be left with questions about your future, your health, and your finances.

A Charlotte drunk driving accident lawyer from the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin can help you understand your options and fight for your rights. We understand the challenges you are facing and know that your first priority should be your recovery. Let our team handle your fight for justice so you can focus on healing.

Why Choose the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin for Your Charlotte DWI Case?

When you choose the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, you get a formidable team on your side. We have recovered over $2 billion total for over 78,000 clients since 1997, and counting.¹ Our firm has the experience and the extensive resources to stand up to large insurance companies and fight for our clients. We know how the other side works because our team includes former insurance adjusters and defense firm attorneys.

We believe in putting you first. This means:

• We listen to you and communicate with you every step of the way.
• We use advanced, proprietary software to help move your case forward as quickly as possible.
• We build a case based on facts and evidence to try to maximize potential compensation.

Our goal is to do high-quality work for as many people as possible, one client at a time. We operate on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no fee unless we obtain a financial result for you. Guaranteed.² We are ready to help you.

The Serious Impact of Drunk Driving in Charlotte

Charlotte is a vibrant city, from the bustling streets of Uptown to the busy stretches of I-77 and I-85. Unfortunately, this high volume of traffic also means a higher risk of accidents, including those caused by impaired drivers. A Charlotte drunk driving accident lawyer understands the profound impact these events have on individuals and families in our community.

The choice to drive drunk is a negligent act that can have far-reaching consequences. People injured in these accidents often endure significant physical pain, emotional distress, and financial strain from medical bills and lost wages.

North Carolina Impaired Driving Laws

In North Carolina, it is illegal to operate a vehicle while under the influence of an impairing substance. The state’s law sets the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit at 0.08% for most drivers. For commercial drivers, the limit is 0.04%.

In addition to the criminal charges a drunk driver may face, they can also be held financially responsible in a civil claim for the harm they caused. Sometimes, other parties may also share liability. For example, North Carolina’s “dram shop” laws may allow an injured person to file a claim against a bar or restaurant that knowingly served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person who then caused an accident. A knowledgeable DWI accident attorney in Charlotte can investigate all potential sources of compensation.

What Compensation Can Be Pursued in a Drunk Driving Accident Claim?

If you were injured by an impaired driver, you might be able to seek compensation for a variety of harms and losses. While every case is different, a claim can seek to recover damages for:

• Medical Expenses: This can include costs for emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, medication, and any future medical care related to the accident injuries.
• Lost Wages or Income: If your injuries prevent you from working, you may be able to recover the income you have lost and potentially the income you may lose in the future due to a diminished earning capacity.
• Pain and Suffering: This can compensate for the physical pain and emotional distress you may have endured because of the accident and your injuries.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of egregious conduct, such as drunk driving, it may be possible to pursue punitive damages, which are meant to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior in the future.

An experienced drunk driving accident lawyer can carefully evaluate all the ways the accident has affected your life to calculate the full potential value of your claim.

How a Charlotte Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Fights for You

Dealing with the consequences of a drunk driving accident can be difficult. Having a dedicated legal team on your side can reduce the burden on you and your family, allowing you to focus on your recovery.

At the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, we fight for our clients every step of the way. Here is what we can do for you:

• Manage All the Details: We can complete complicated paperwork, make sure all procedures are followed correctly, and meet strict deadlines on your behalf.
• Advise and Communicate: We take the time to listen to your questions, tell you the truth about your case, and provide updates on its progress to give you peace of mind.
• Protect Your Rights: We level the playing field with the insurance companies. If needed, we can also address and negotiate liens to try to put more money in your pocket.
• Handle the Insurance Company: Our team can handle all communication and negotiations on your behalf, countering the lowball tactics some insurance companies use.
• Build Your Case: We can gather and examine evidence, such as police reports, medical records, and photos of the scene. When appropriate, we may depose witnesses or work with investigators to reconstruct the accident.
• Fight for Maximum Compensation: We try to identify all possible sources of compensation and calculate the full value of your harms and losses to fight for a fair result.

Our mission is to provide excellent legal representation, and we dedicate the necessary assets to build a compelling case for each client.

The Insurance Company Is Not on Your Side

After an accident, you will likely have to deal with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. It is important to remember that insurance companies are businesses, and their primary goal is generally to protect their bottom line. Some may try to settle your claim for as little as possible, sometimes before you even know the full extent of your injuries.

An adjuster might sound friendly and helpful on the phone, but some may be looking for information to use against you. They could ask for a recorded statement or try to get you to sign medical authorizations that give them broad access to your entire medical history.

Having a dedicated lawyer represent you changes the dynamic. Having an attorney on your side signals to the insurance company that you are serious about your case. All communications will go through your lawyer, which will help protect you from saying something that could harm your case.

The “Three-Legged Stool” of a Personal Injury Claim

Instead of focusing on complicated legal doctrines, we find it helpful to think of a personal injury case as a three-legged stool. For the stool to be stable, all three legs must be strong.

1. Liability: The first leg is proving that someone else was responsible, or liable, for the accident that caused your injury. In a drunk driving case, evidence like a failed breathalyzer test, police reports, or witness statements can help establish the other driver’s liability.
2. Damages: The second leg represents the harms and losses you may have endured. This can include your medical bills, lost income, pain, and other consequences of the injury. We gather detailed documentation to demonstrate the full extent of your possible damages.
3. Source of Recovery: The third leg is the potential to collect the compensation you might deserve. This can often be an insurance policy held by the at-fault driver or another responsible party.

If any one of these legs is weak, the entire case can falter. Our attorneys carefully analyze each leg to build a compelling case for our clients.

Punitive Damages in North Carolina DWI Accident Cases

One of the unique aspects of drunk driving accident claims in North Carolina is the potential for punitive damages. Most personal injury cases are about compensating the injured person for their losses. Punitive damages are different. Their purpose is to punish a defendant for “egregiously wrongful acts” and to deter them and others from similar conduct in the future.

Driving while impaired is often considered an egregiously wrongful act. To pursue punitive damages, we must typically prove that the at-fault driver showed malice or willful or wanton conduct.

• Willful Conduct: This means the driver intentionally acted with knowledge that their actions were likely to cause injury.
• Wanton Conduct: This refers to a conscious and intentional disregard for the rights and safety of others.

The possibility of punitive damages can significantly increase the potential value of a claim. A skilled drunk driving accident attorney in Charlotte knows how to gather the evidence needed to build a strong argument for these damages when the facts of the case support it.