Impaired & Intoxicated Truck Driver Accidents in Sacramento

Call (916) 520-6639 Now if you've been injured in a DUI Truck Accident

Every 50 minutes in the United States, someone dies in an alcohol-related motor vehicle accident. While drunk drivers are frequently prosecuted via the criminal justice system, these consequences achieve little for those injured or bereaved by the accident. This is especially true for those injured in devastating accidents with commercial vehicles.

This is why those affected by impaired or intoxicated truck drivers in California have a right to file a personal injury lawsuit. 

Why Choose Us?

Our firm understands what you are going through and has helped countless clients in the past. We have over 100 years of collective experience handling claims similar to yours, but we understand every case is different and will provide you with personalized support every step of the way.

We also won’t charge you a single legal fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf. To date, we have recovered more than $1 billion on behalf of the injured and bereaved in Sacramento.

While we sincerely wish your accident never happened, we would be honored to seek justice on your behalf and add you to our long list of satisfied clients.

How Can an Attorney Help?

If you were injured or lost a loved one to a DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving while intoxicated) incident with a large truck, a successful civil suit can ensure you do not have to face the day-to-day consequences of the accident alone. The resulting compensation can help you recover from your injuries and losses, achieve a personal sense of justice, and obtain financial peace of mind.

At Kershaw Talley Barlow, we promise to pursue maximum compensation on your behalf. We understand the countless ways your accident may have changed your life and want to take full advantage of the civil justice system to help you get your life back on track.

Contact our Sacramento truck accident lawyers to discuss your case in a free consultation!

California’s Impaired Driving Laws

California has strict laws regarding DUIs and DWIs. Like many other states, California prohibits motorists from driving with a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of .08% or more. For commercial drivers, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.04% or more. Anyone suspected of driving under the influence must submit to a BAC test or face a fine and drivers’ license or CDL (commercial drivers’ license) suspension.

Fortunately, chemical tests provide proof in both criminal and civil cases. If a driver caused your accident with an unacceptable BAC, insurance companies will want to keep this information out of court and, therefore, be more generous in settlement negotiations. Similarly, trucking companies who are liable for their drivers’ behavior will want to resolve your claim as quickly as possible and may pay top-dollar to do so.

Your case will be especially strong if the driver is arrested and/or successfully charged with a DUI or DWI. If an individual is convicted of criminal negligence, your claim for civil damages will be taken seriously. One of the most difficult components of personal injury lawsuits is proving negligence, but with impaired driving, this carelessness is generally quite clear.

Still, insurers and defendants will try to protect their interests in any situation, sometimes by attacking your behavior during the accident or trying to muddle responsibility.

When you work with our attorneys, we will advocate on your behalf, clarify the negligence and other aspects of your trucking accident, and fight fiercely for your best interests at all times.

Pursuing Maximum Policy Limits

In DUI/DWI cases, shipping companies and insurers want to stay out of court. If your case goes to trial, a jury will likely be more sympathetic towards you, as the victim of the accident, than they would be towards the truck driver who caused the collision or the company that is responsible for the misconduct of its employee. As a result, insurance companies are motivated to pay out policy maximums, especially when they are threatened with litigation and know the attorney will not back down from a trial. Due to their size and weight, commercial trucking companies often hold higher policy limits than other vehicles.

Our firm has a reputation for taking on both shipping and insurance companies, so our negotiations will typically be taken seriously.

When we represent you, we will not let you be taken advantage of by insurance companies and we will pursue policy maximums. Before you speak to an adjuster, call our firm at (916) 520-6639.

Punitive Damages

Sometimes, even the high policy maximums of commercial shipping companies are not enough to cover the costs of your injuries and losses. When someone drives under the influence of drugs or alcohol, their negligence is also more obvious and completely unacceptable. To account for this, our Sacramento DUI/DWI accident attorneys frequently request punitive, or exemplary, damages from the driver and their employer.

Punitive damages are designed to punish wrongdoers and make an example of them to discourage similar behavior in the future. They also offer additional comfort to those affected by impaired trucking accidents.

Pursuing punitive damages whenever appropriate is just another way we take care of our clients.

When you choose our firm, we will not overlook your needs.

How Compensation Can Help

No matter how much we are able to recover on your behalf, financial awards, or damages, will never change what happened. While we cannot undo your accident, we can make sure you have the tools you need moving forward.

Compensation can help you with the following:

• Medical bills and emergency treatments
• Rehabilitative care
• Missed wages
• Diminished earning potential
• Pain and suffering
• Changes to your quality of life
• Funerary and burial expenses in wrongful death cases
• Other relevant losses

Sometimes, a truck accident can take away life as you know it, but our firm is dedicated to helping you rebuild.

To get started, call us at (916) 520-6639 and request a 100% free, confidential consultation.