A man crossing the street was struck by a drunk driver sending him to the hospital with serious injuries. The incident happened Wednesday night, December 5, 2018, on Winchester road in the city’s east side. According to a police officer at the scene, the driver of the car pulled over into a parking lot and stayed there until police arrived. He has been arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired.
Driving While Impaired
For years, drunk driving fatalities have been on the decline, however, it is still a problem in all areas of the country. The trend is holding for Kentucky drivers as well. In 1982, there were 822 automobile-related deaths in Kentucky and 59 percent of those were related to alcohol.
Fast forward to 2014, and the number of deaths has dropped to 672, which is good, but more importantly, the percentage of those deaths related to alcohol dropped to 29 percent. Though these statistics are good, there are still around 200 alcohol related deaths each year in Kentucky.
Injuries to a Pedestrian From a Drunk Driver
By definition, impaired drivers have a diminished capacity to use reason and to control their motor reflexes. Because of this, injuries sustained by a DUI can be severe because drivers can be erratic and unpredictable often leaving the victim little time to react. When the injured is a pedestrian, there is no protection as there is in a vehicle. This means even a minor impact can cause serious injuries.
Many times, the injuries sustained by the victim goes beyond the physical injuries. Their life is turned upside down, and they are also dealing with emotional and financial losses as well.
Do I need an attorney if I’m injured by an Impaired Driver?
In many accidents, an attorney might not be necessary. However, with pedestrian/DUI injuries, there are several complicated issues that arise. Just because the driver was drunk, doesn’t mean that the law considers him automatically guilty in a personal injury claim. Civil law and criminal law are in separate courts and are tried separately.
This means that the insurance agent might tell you that you are at fault and will either get a significantly reduced amount or none at all. Don’t take their word for it. Talk to an attorney who can tell you what the law says.
Don’t let the insurance company give you as little as possible, but get someone who can stand up to them for you. The attorneys at Kaufman and Stigger, PLLC, have that knowledge and a combined 100 years’ experience in helping clients get the results they deserve. To discuss your case, call Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC today, at (800) 937-8443 or click here to contact them online.
