Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
Being hit by a drunk driver is a traumatic experience that can leave you with serious injuries, emotional distress, and financial losses that pile up fast. If an impaired driver hurt you or a family member, our drunk driver lawyer in Mount Vernon can help you pursue compensation.
At Shulman & Hill Injury Lawyers, we represent injured New Yorkers across Westchester County and the five boroughs, and our car accident lawyer in Mount Vernon team is ready to fight for you. New York, We Got You.
We have recovered over $1 billion and helped more than 26,000 clients across New York, and we are prepared to put that record to work for you. Contact us today for a free consultation.
How Drunk Driving Accident Claims Work in New York
A drunk driving accident claim follows the same process as any personal injury case, but the fact that the driver was impaired adds important legal dimensions. A criminal DUI charge against the driver runs separately from your civil injury claim, and you do not need to wait for the criminal case to resolve before pursuing compensation.
Our personal injury lawyer in Mount Vernon handles drunk driving accident cases regularly. Key elements that shape a drunk driving accident claim in New York include:
- Evidence of the driver’s impairment, including police reports, breathalyzer results, and arrest records
- Medical documentation connecting your injuries directly to the collision
- Witness statements from others at the scene
- Surveillance or dashcam footage capturing the crash
- Whether a bar or establishment served the driver alcohol before the crash, which may open a separate dram shop claim
The strength of your claim often depends on how quickly this evidence is gathered and preserved. Our in-house investigation team begins working on your case from day one after we’re hired.
What Is a Dram Shop Claim and Does It Apply to Your Case
New York’s Dram Shop Act allows injured victims to pursue compensation from a bar, restaurant, or other alcohol-serving establishment that served a visibly intoxicated person who later caused an accident. If the drunk driver was overserved before getting behind the wheel, the establishment that served them may share liability for your injuries.
Dram shop claims add a layer of potential compensation that many victims do not know they have access to. These claims require evidence that the driver was visibly intoxicated when served and that the establishment continued to serve them despite that condition.
Not every drunk driving accident involves a dram shop claim, but when the facts support it, pursuing that avenue can significantly increase the total compensation available to you. Our Mount Vernon drunk driver lawyers can explain if you qualify for a dram shop claim.
Common Injuries in Drunk Driving Accident Cases
Drunk drivers often cause high-speed, high-impact collisions because impairment reduces reaction time and judgment. The injuries that result tend to be serious and can have lasting consequences.
Injuries commonly seen in drunk driving accident cases include:
- Traumatic brain injuries and head trauma
- Spinal cord damage and paralysis
- Broken bones and crush injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Severe lacerations and scarring
The severity of your injuries directly shapes the value of your claim. We work with medical professionals to document every aspect of your condition so that your claim accounts for both your current losses and your long-term needs.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Drunk Driving Accident
Drunk driving accident cases in New York can involve several categories of compensation. In addition to standard personal injury damages, courts in New York may award punitive damages in cases involving particularly reckless conduct, such as driving while heavily intoxicated.
Compensation in a drunk driving accident case may include:
- Medical expenses, including future care and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages where the conduct warrants them
Our team identifies every available source of compensation, including the driver’s personal insurance, any applicable dram shop liability, and punitive damages where the facts support pursuing them.
How Shulman & Hill Injury Lawyers Handles Drunk Driving Cases
Founded in 2013, Shulman & Hill Injury Lawyers has spent over a decade standing up for working-class New Yorkers hurt by negligent and reckless drivers. We bring more than 200 years of combined legal experience to every case, with over $1 billion recovered for more than 26,000 clients across New York.
We use our own in-house investigation team to gather police reports, preserve evidence, and build your case from the start. We do not outsource that work. In drunk driving cases, where criminal proceedings can affect the availability of evidence, having attorneys and investigators working in parallel matters.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win. Our offices span all five boroughs, and we travel for consultations, so cost and distance are never barriers to getting the help you need.
Contact a Drunk Driver Attorney in Mount Vernon Today
If an impaired driver in Mount Vernon injured you or a loved oneon or anywhere in Westchester County, do not wait to speak with an attorney. Evidence in these cases moves fast, and so do insurance companies.
Contact Shulman & Hill Injury Lawyers today for a free case review and let us fight for every dollar you may be owed. As your drunk driver lawyer in Mount Vernon, we are ready to hold reckless drivers and their insurers accountable. No fees unless we win.