A drunk driving crash brings anger. You did not choose to drive after drinking. Still, you may be waiting for test results, missing work, calling body shops, and trying to get straight answers from an insurance provider.
At the Law Offices of Pius Joseph, Attorney Pius Joseph, a personal injury lawyer, leads a team with more than 30 years of experience standing up for injured Californians. We have recovered millions in settlements and have won personal injury cases at a 90% rate. Past results do not promise the same result in a new case, but they show how seriously we prepare accident claims when a drunk driver causes harm.
Before you give a recorded statement, sign a release, or accept money that does not cover your medical bills, talk with a drunk driving lawyer in Pasadena, CA, who can review the crash and the real cost of your injuries.
What Should Happen Next After Being Hit By a Drunk Driver in Pasadena?
Your health comes first. If you have pain, dizziness, numbness, confusion, or weakness after a car crash, seek medical attention right away. Some serious injuries do not show up clearly at the accident scene. Internal injuries, spinal cord injuries, concussions, broken bones, and soft tissue damage can grow worse without immediate medical attention.
Next, call law enforcement and make sure the crash is documented. Police reports matter because officers may record signs of impairment, field sobriety tests, witness statements, arrests, citations, and the driver’s behavior. If the at-fault driver fled, tell the officer every detail you remember. A hit-and-run accident involving alcohol may need a fast review of traffic cameras, nearby businesses, and license plate details.
Take photos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, road marks, visible injuries, and the other driver’s license plate if it is safe. Get names and phone numbers from witnesses. Exchange insurance details, but avoid arguing about fault.
Then, get legal representation before the claims process moves too far. Insurance companies often contact car accident victims fast. Their questions may sound routine, but your answers can affect your injury claim.
Why DUI Crashes Are Not Ordinary Car Accident Cases
Car accidents happen for many reasons. Poorly maintained roads, distracted driving, speeding, and unsafe lane changes all contribute to automobile accidents throughout Pasadena, CA. Drunk driving adds another layer because the other driver made a preventable choice.
In 2024, alcohol-impaired driving crashes caused 11,904 deaths in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA also reported that about 30% of all traffic crash fatalities involved drunk drivers. In California, the Office of Traffic Safety reported 1,355 deaths in alcohol-involved crashes in 2023.
California sets the legal blood alcohol concentration limit at 0.08% or higher for most drivers over 21. Lower limits apply to commercial drivers, drivers under 21, DUI probation drivers, and drivers carrying passengers for hire. A DUI arrest can support your civil claim, but the criminal case does not pay your medical expenses, lost wages, or physical therapy bills. That is why you may still need a Pasadena drunk driving accident lawyer even if prosecutors are handling the DUI charge.
A civil claim focuses on your losses. It asks who caused the traffic accident, how the driver’s negligence harmed you, and what fair compensation covers. In some drunk driving cases, punitive damages may also be considered under California law when the facts show conscious disregard for the safety of others.
The Injuries We Often See After Impaired-Driving Collisions
Drunk driving can lead to high-speed impacts, head-on collisions, rear-end crashes, side-impact crashes, pedestrian injuries, and motorcycle crashes. Impaired drivers may brake late, drift into another lane, run red lights, or fail to see stopped traffic.
Accident victims may suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, severe cuts, neck and back injuries, burns, post-traumatic stress disorder, and fatal injuries. More severe injuries may require surgery, physical therapy, long-term medication, home care, mobility devices, or changes to work duties.
An experienced car accident attorney can connect the injury record to the crash by collecting medical records, reviewing treatment plans, and showing how the injury affects work and daily activities.
