Most Serious Injuries Caused by Drunk Drivers in Memphis

Drunk driving is illegal for a reason — namely, for how incredibly dangerous it is. When someone gets behind the wheel under the influence of any substance, they are not able to drive safely.

Unfortunately, this often leads to catastrophic accidents with other, innocent drivers on the road. Depending on how the collision occurred, victims are lucky to escape with their lives. Over the last year in Memphis a third of all fatal accidents involved a drunk driver, and one out of every 15 drunk driving accidents led to injuries. Half of all drunk driving crashes in Memphis in the last 12 months resulted in injuries or death.

When someone makes the reckless decision to get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol, they often know they’re making a dangerous choice. Even if the victim in the other vehicle survives, they’re likely to suffer life-altering injuries that require years (maybe even a lifetime) of expensive treatment. Nothing can undo an accident, but victims can hold the responsible party accountable for the damages they caused, which includes getting compensation for every bill and expense related to their injuries.

Drunk driving injuries are often life-threatening and expensive

Because drunk drivers have impaired reflexes and coordination, it means the accidents they cause often happen because the drivers lost control of the vehicle. From swerving into someone at highway speed to failing to notice stopped traffic, the only thing we really can predict is that someone will get very, very hurt.

Some of the most serious injuries often caused by drunk drivers include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (including concussions)
• Spinal cord injury (which can lead to paralysis)
• Loss of limb/amputation
• Internal organ damage
• Shattered bones

It’s common for victims to have multiple severe injuries from one accident. For example, someone who has a traumatic brain injury may also have damage to their spinal cord and other lacerations and complications. This means recovery can take anywhere from weeks to the rest of the victim’s life, involving numerous expensive surgeries, treatments, medications, therapies, and other accommodations — not to mention the time they must take away from work (if they can ever return) and the actual, physical pain of it all. No matter how good one’s health insurance is, these bills can stack up. No victim should have to choose between recovery and affording rent or food.

Holding drunk drivers accountable in Memphis

After going through a traumatic car accident, the last thing you may want to do is get involved in any sort of court-related process. However, while you need — and deserve — rest after your ordeal, waiting too long to pursue compensation can only hurt you in the end. The good news is that a good Memphis personal injury attorney does the legwork for you, so you CAN rest. Not only do they attend your court dates on your behalf, they also work to build a case against the responsible party and prove their negligence. Tennessee is a comparative fault state, which means it would be up to the victim to prove they aren’t responsible for any part of their injuries, but just proving the other driver was under the influence of alcohol may be enough in these cases.

It can still be a convoluted process, though, especially for the average layperson. But you, as the victim, aren’t required to go through that process alone. Your attorney will let you rest while they conduct their own investigation of the accident, strengthen your case, and fight back against the opposition when they inevitably try not to pay. The other side is going to be doing everything they can to avoid taking responsibility, especially because they may be trying to avoid a DUI conviction, and a good attorney knows how to make sure they can’t get away with it.

It is also worth noting that trustworthy legal representation like us takes cases like these on contingency, which means you don’t have to pay anything unless we win. Attorneys are here to help reduce your stress as much as possible by advocating for your rights and compensation on your behalf while you take your time resting, recovering, and readjusting to your new normal. If they do their job correctly, you may be eligible for any and all damages relating to your injuries, including:

• Medical expenses, including therapies, medications, surgeries, and any caretakers. Life-long accommodations and travel to appointments would also be covered.
• Lost wages, meaning you would be repaid for what you have missed from work while recovering. If you are never able to return to your job, additional compensation may be available.
• Possible punitive damages if the other driver had an excessively high BAC.
• Pain and suffering, both physically and emotionally.
• Other losses, such as replacing or repairing your vehicle.

These damages can make all the difference. Instead of having to worry about affording the life you’re now forced to lead, you can rest and focus on yourself, your health, and your family. If you never seek these damages, though, you’ll never receive them.

Victims of drunk driving accidents in Memphis can trust the skilled personal injury attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC to represent them. We have years of experience getting our clients the compensation they deserve after another’s recklessness caused their injuries. Not only do we treat our clients with the utmost respect and compassion, we also make sure to keep you in the loop every step of the way while still making sure you have space to rest. To learn more about how we can help, call us today at 901-475-7434 or use our contact form. We have another office in Jackson for your convenience.