Omaha DUI Accident Victim Attorney

Legal Representation for Victims of Omaha Drunk Driving Accidents

Driving after you have had too many alcoholic drinks may prove to be a recipe for disaster. Though drunk-driving deaths have decreased in the last 30 years, the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration estimates that almost 29 people die every day in the United States due to alcohol-impaired vehicle crashes, and thousands more are injured.

Nebraska has strict laws on what constitutes driving under the influence of alcohol, and anyone who violates these laws can be held liable in a civil lawsuit for damages caused in a drunk driving collision.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver, you can take legal action to hold that driver responsible and help alleviate your expenses that arose due to another party’s recklessness. At Bottlinger Law L.L.C., we offer every client compassion, strong legal representation, and our years of experience. Call an Omaha car accident lawyer today at (402) 505-8234 to discuss what happened and learn about your options.

How Alcohol Affects Drivers

After drinking, people who get behind the wheel tend to have slowed reaction times, trouble focusing, and impaired judgment. On the road, these drivers may:

• Take wide turns
• Shift from lane to lane
• Run red lights or stop signs at intersections
• Drive too close to other vehicles or objects
• Drive on the wrong side of the road
• Drive too slowly
• Stop and start, braking erratically
• Drive without headlights
• Drive without signals

Any one of these behaviors can lead to a collision. Driving while intoxicated is considered a form of negligence in Nebraska, and if drunk drivers add in other negligent behavior, such as running stoplights or breaking traffic laws, they can certainly be held liable in a personal injury claim if they cause a crash and subsequent injuries to others.

Your Options After a Collision With a Drunk Driver

After a drunk driving collision, the intoxicated driver may face administrative penalties and criminal charges under Nebraska state law. This can include losing a driver’s license, going to jail, having to attend substance abuse classes, and paying court fines, but none of this will get you the money you need to recover after being injured. Drunk drivers put a massive financial strain on their victims: extensive property damage; catastrophic injuries like brain damage, amputations, and spinal cord injuries; and deep emotional scars.

To recover all the costs of a collision, you need to file a civil claim against the driver who injured you and their insurance company. This is completely separate from criminal charges against the driver, and you should speak to an experienced Omaha drunk driving accident attorney to help you with the process. At Bottlinger Law L.L.C., we can advocate for:

• Medical bills for injuries caused by the driver, including surgeries, hospital care, rehabilitation, therapy, and medication
• Property damage done by the driver
• Lost wages due to time away from work caused by injuries
• Pain and suffering you have dealt with due to the drunk driver
• Loss of future income due to injuries and disabilities caused by the driver

Why You Should Contact an Omaha DUI Accident Lawyer

The harsh reality is that even if a drunk driver is convicted of DUI, their insurance company may not pay you, the victim, what you are owed. Insurance companies rarely offer full compensation right out the gate, even if their clients are being charged in criminal court. They will often lowball the victims without a second thought. An insurance adjuster may try to dismiss your injuries as minor, say you have a preexisting condition, or argue that you were somehow at fault for the collision. But none of this may be true; they only want you to accept a small settlement. Instead of letting them do this, you should work with a skilled and dedicated Omaha personal injury attorney who knows how to fight back.

At Bottlinger Law L.L.C., we have years of experience dealing with underhanded insurance companies and standing up for our clients. We can cover every aspect of your case, from consulting with your doctors about your injuries to collecting evidence that proves the other driver was intoxicated to handling all communication with the insurance company. When we take on a case, we do not rest until we recover compensation for our clients. Let us stand up for you.

If you have been injured by a drunk driver, call our legal team at Bottlinger Law L.L.C. to take action against the person who harmed you. The number is (402) 505-8234, and your consultation is free. We will work with you to get justice and help you recover fully.

Additional Information

• How Alcohol Makes It Harder to Spot Motorcycles
• Impaired Driving - MedlinePlus
• Drunk Driving - NHTSA