Tennessee Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Despite all of the efforts by law enforcement and public awareness campaigns to curb drunk driving, approximately one out of every three traffic deaths involve a drunk driver, and countless more people are seriously injured by impaired drivers each year. If you or a loved one have been injured by a drunk driver, call the Law Office of Stephen A. Burroughs at 865-525-3773 today for a free consultation. The lawyers at our firm have extensive experience handling drunk driving cases, and they are ready to get started working on your claim today. At the Law Office of Stephen A. Burroughs, we are passionate about serving people who have been injured by another’s negligence and there’s nothing more negligent than driving under the influence.

What is considered drunk driving in Tennessee?

The legal limit in Tennessee is .08 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). The University of Arizona tells its students that 2 to 4 drinks in one hour will put most people at .08 BAC. Your BAC, however, varies based on weight, gender, the strength of the drink and the time of day you’ve been drinking. As a driver, you should know your BAC limit. There are simple online BAC calculators available. Anyone under the legal drinking age of 21 is not allowed to have any alcohol before driving.

What should I do if I have been injured by a drunk driver?

In any accident, it’s important to call the police and get a formal report of the accident, but this is especially crucial if you suspect a driver was drunk or otherwise impaired. If you suspect the other driver to be impaired, then inform the officer when they arrive at the scene. Police are trained to identify impaired drivers, but it is important that you bring it to their attention if you have witnessed anything that causes you to believe the other driver was operating their vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicant.

If you can do so safely, gather information and evidence that could help show the other driver was DUI. Smart phones can be an effective way of documenting the fact that another driver seemed impaired at the time of the collision. Video or audio of your conversation with the other driver can help document that the other driver was obviously impaired at the time of the crash. As with any other accident, you should gather as much information as you can about the accident, including the names and numbers of witnesses. In DUI cases, it is also important to pay attention to whether the other driver appears to try to get rid of bottles or cans. If you do note such behavior, then it is important to point this out to the investigating officer upon their arrival. Finally, as with all other accidents, call an ambulance if you, a passenger or the other driver needs medical treatment.

If you or a loved one have been injured by a drunk driver, call the Law Office of Stephen A. Burroughs today at 865-525-3773 for a free consultation. Within minutes of receiving your call, we will get to work on investigating your claim and immediately start working to protect your rights. One of the things our legal team will investigate is whether the other driver has previous convictions. The CDC reports drivers arrested while under the influence are six times more likely to have a prior DUI conviction than drivers with no alcohol in their system. If the DUI driver has previous convictions then we will work to use those to increase the value of your case.

What am I entitled to if I have been injured in a drunk driving accident?

In any personal injury case, you are entitled to three forms of compensation, if you can prove you suffered such losses: costs for your reasonable medical care, including future medical expenses; payment for lost wages; and compensation for pain and suffering. But in drunk driving cases, you may also be entitled to punitive damages. These damages go beyond cost and compensation for your direct losses; they are meant to punish the wrongdoer and awards for DUI cases can be quite significant.

Who is responsible for payment in a drunk driving accident? Can a party host or business owner be held responsible for a drunk driving accident?

The DUI driver is responsible for payment of your damages, however, there are situations in which a party host or business owner can also be responsible. The Tennessee “Dram Shop Law” holds responsible any business owner who knowingly sells alcohol to an inebriated customer or guest. Restaurant servers have a duty to monitor the amount of alcohol a customer has consumed and to refuse to serve excessive amounts to any person. A party host may also be responsible for providing excessive alcohol to their adult guests, or for providing any alcohol to their guests under the age of 21.

I have been injured by a DUI driver. How can your law firm help me?

At the Law Office of Stephen A. Burroughs, we have aggressive lawyers with years of experience handling DUI injury cases. When you have been injured by a DUI driver, you do not have to go it alone. Call 865-525-3773 right now and get the lawyers at the Law Office of Stephen A. Burroughs to fight for your rights. They will get started on your case immediately and work tirelessly to help you get your life back on track, after being injured by a DUI diver.