Pittsburgh Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA

Under Pennsylvania law, a driver who has a blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than .08 faces criminal charges for drunk driving and may be civilly liable for monetary damages. A bar, restaurant or social host may also be held civilly liable for monetary damages. After an accident with a drunk driver, it’s important to work with a Pittsburgh drunk driving accident lawyer to assess your options for compensation and recover the damages you deserve.

If the DUI accident resulted in the injury or death of another driver or passenger in either vehicle, the DUI driver may be charged with a felony for vehicular homicide or vehicular assault. Even if the driver is acquitted of the criminal charges, however, victims may pursue civil damages for personal injury or wrongful death. If you are the victim of a drunk driver, you may seek full compensation regardless of your tort option.

Experienced Western And Central Pennsylvania DUI Accident Attorneys

If you were injured by a drunk driver or lost a loved one because of a drunk driver in western or central Pennsylvania, call Ainsman Levine, LLC, in Pittsburgh. Our attorneys have spent years supporting those injured by the negligence and criminal actions of people like drunk drivers.

Since opening our doors in 1993, we have become the dui accident victim law firm that those affected by negligence turn to first when seeking full and fair compensation.

Over the years, our attorneys have earned recognition by prestigious organizations, including The Best Lawyers in America and Pittsburgh Magazine Super Lawyers. We have secured successful case outcomes, such as a $2.5 million result in a personal injury claim. Our results don’t guarantee an outcome for your claim, but show how we offer compassionate and dedicated legal representation for our clients.

What Should You Do After a Drunk Driving Accident in Pittsburgh?

After a drunk driving accident in Pittsburgh, there are certain steps you should take to protect your own well-being. There are also important steps to help you file a stronger claim against the negligent driver. Pennsylvania is a no-fault accident state, but this works differently when a drunk driver is involved. After an accident with a driver you suspect is drunk, you should take the following steps:

1. Report the accident. First, call 911 to report the crash, as well as your injuries or other injuries you are aware of. In Pennsylvania, you are legally required to report accidents that result in injury, death, or damage to a vehicle that requires it to be towed.
2. Get medical care. When emergency responders arrive, get medical treatment. Even if you think you weren’t injured in the crash, you may be missing injuries due to shock. Getting care is essential for your well-being. It also ties any potential injuries to the accident, making a claim easier.
3. Make a police report. When you are asked to by the responding law enforcement officer, give information for the police report. Don’t lie about the accident or speculate about what caused it; just provide facts and don’t admit fault.

   Make a note of whether the responding officer is from the Pittsburgh Police, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, or Pennsylvania State Police. This is important information to later secure a copy of the police report.

4. Exchange information with drivers. While you wait for emergency responders or after getting care, exchange information with the driver or drivers of the other involved vehicles. This includes contact and insurance information, as well as their license plate number.
5. Gather evidence. At the scene, it is important to document the incident and gather other information. Take photos and videos of the crash, your injuries, skid marks, the weather, and road conditions, and notable traffic control systems. If there were any eyewitnesses to the accident, such as passengers, uninvolved drivers, or pedestrians, secure their contact information. Note any observations that suggest the other driver is drunk.
6. Notify your insurer. It’s important to report the accident to your insurance company. You may recover some damages from your own insurance company, depending on the circumstances. Don’t provide a statement to your insurer without legal representation, and be sure not to admit fault.
7. Contact an attorney. You should get in touch with a personal injury attorney if you think you have the grounds for a drunk driving injury claim. An attorney helps you file a claim properly and helps you protect your rights.

Drunk driving accidents frequently become hit-and-run accidents. Because of this, it is especially important that you make note of information about the driver and their vehicle if they flee the scene.

Negligent Drunk Drivers

When drivers operate their vehicles while impaired by drugs or alcohol, they break the law and breach their duty of care to others on the road. This means that they can be held liable for the damages or injuries that they cause.

There were 2,272 offenses in 2024 for drunk driving with less than 0.08% BAC, where the driver was unable to drive safely, in Allegheny County. There were additional offenses for higher BAC readings and for impairment by other controlled substances. While not all drunk driving offenses result in injury or death, they disproportionately do.

In 2024, there were 14 fatalities in alcohol-related accidents in Alleghany County, a decrease from the prior three years but an increase from 2020. These accidents also cause numerous injuries.

When a drunk driver injures you, you can file a claim to recover numerous damages, such as the cost of your medical treatment and the damage to your vehicle.

Negligent Serving Of Alcohol (Dram Shop Laws)

In addition to seeking damages from the drunk driver, victims may have a legitimate claim for damages from the bar, restaurant or social host found to be liable for serving the driver excessive alcohol and allowing him or her to operate a vehicle when leaving the premises. This liability only applies in strict circumstances, which is why the help of an attorney is essential.

These laws are called dram shop laws, and they give victims an option for recovering full and fair monetary damages, even if the DUI driver was not covered by sufficient insurance, which is often the case.

Why Should You Hire a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Pittsburgh?

It’s useful to hire a drunk driving accident lawyer in Pittsburgh for many reasons. An attorney greatly improves your chances of filing a successful claim and improves the chances of getting full and fair financial compensation. A lawyer helps in many ways, including:

• Investigating the cause of the accident to determine the party or parties at fault
• Gathering important evidence, including evidence you collected at the scene and other information like BAC tests, police reports, and surveillance footage
• Assessing what your options are for financial compensation, including insurance claims or civil claims
• Determining whether you have the grounds to hold a restaurant, bar, or other host liable for negligent serving practices
• Calculating the full cost of your damages, including medical bills, future costs, lost income, and more
• Negotiating for your right to fair compensation
• Representing you in court and advocating for the damages you are owed

An attorney generally makes the process easier for you, minimizing your stress while working to secure you the ideal outcome for your case. It is much easier to rest and physically recover from your injuries when you know your claim is in good hands.

What Compensation Is Available in Drunk Driving Accident Claims?

The compensation available in a civil claim against a drunk driver or other party depends on the specific injuries and other damages sustained. In 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the average annual cost of deaths caused by drunk driving accidents was $143 billion.

You could recover compensation for:

• Medical bills for surgeries, hospital transportation, medication, and other treatments
• The cost of future medical services, like physical therapy and other rehabilitative care
• Damage to your personal property, including your vehicle or other costly property
• Any lost wages or income you would have earned if you were not recovering from your injury
• Lost earning capacity if you cannot return to work full-time
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of quality of life
• Emotional trauma

Many people underestimate the damages they are owed in a civil DUI claim. When you have legal representation, your attorney can calculate all of these damages to help you recover what you are owed.

If the at-fault party, such as the insurer for the driver or the dram shop, tries to offer a settlement that doesn’t compensate you for your damages, your attorney can negotiate that offer or take your case to court.

Filing a claim in court could also lead to punitive damages, which are awarded for wanton, reckless, or willful outrageous conduct. Instead of compensating you for a loss, these damages are meant to prevent the at-fault party from engaging in this behavior again by imposing additional financial penalties.

FAQs

Q: How Much Does a DUI Lawyer Cost in Pennsylvania?

A: The cost of a DUI lawyer in Pennsylvania to file a civil claim against a drunk driver is generally a contingency fee. This is a percentage of the final settlement you recover in the claim, meaning you don’t owe attorney fees if the case is not successful. The exact percentage owed depends on the complexity of your case, the attorney’s experience, and other factors. Always discuss these fees with your attorney up front.

Q: Can You File a Claim Against Someone for Hitting You While Drunk?

A: Yes, you might be able to file a claim against someone for hitting you in a vehicle accident while they were drunk, although it depends on the circumstances of the accident. A driver acts negligently by driving drunk, but their negligence must also be a significant factor in causing the accident. If the accident was caused by another driver, that driver would be liable for the accident. It is important to have an attorney investigate the cause of your accident.

Q: Do I Need a Lawyer for a DUI Civil Claim in Pennsylvania?

A: While it isn’t required, it’s highly recommended that you hire a drunk driving accident lawyer for a DUI civil claim in Pennsylvania. There are several complex laws that determine how you can recover damages, and an attorney has an in-depth understanding of these laws in the state and how they affect your unique case. An attorney also helps by calculating your full damages and negotiating for fair compensation.

Q: How Can You Recover Damages From a Drunk Driving Accident in Pennsylvania?

A: If a drunk driver hurt you, you could recover damages in several potential ways. You could also file for your damages with a claim against the drunk driver. These cases often go to court, where you could hold a drunk driver civilly liable for your compensatory damages, as well as punitive damages. In some cases, you could also recover compensation from a bar, social host, or other party that served alcohol to the drunk driver.

Free Consultation: DUI Personal Injury Cases Handled On A Contingency Fee Basis

At Ainsman Levine, LLC, our attorneys provide experienced and personalized legal services tailored to meet clients’ short- and long-term needs and goals. We are Pittsburgh’s straight-talking personal injury lawyers. We know how physically and emotionally straining it is to be in a drunk driving accident, and how unfair it can feel. We want to help you get the compensation you need to recover and move forward.

Our offices are just off the Parkway, next to the City-County Building in downtown Pittsburgh. Contact us to discuss your questions and concerns during a free consultation with one of our experienced Pittsburgh attorneys for drunk driver accidents today. As long as you are represented by this law firm, there will be no attorneys’ fees or costs if you do not recover money damages in a settlement or jury verdict.

We understand that your injuries or other circumstances may make it difficult for you to come to our offices in downtown Pittsburgh. Our lawyers can arrange to make home, office and hospital visits throughout western and central Pennsylvania.