Pontiac Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys

By Your Side When You Need Support

Thousands of people are hit by drunk drivers each year, many of whom suffer life-changing or fatal injuries. Not all of those cases end with the victims receiving compensation, though, even when it is clear that the drunk driver is entirely at fault for what happened. If you’ve been hit by an intoxicated driver and you’re worried you could be shorted much-needed compensation, then please call 248-838-0635 to team up with Bashore Green Law Group in Pontiac right away. With our extensive legal experience leading the way, you can confidently demand full compensation from the driver who hit you, as well as their insurance provider.

Schedule a free, confidential consultation today.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Drunk Driving Accidents?

The drunk driver who hit you should be the primarily liable party. As such, they and their insurance company should owe you the most compensation for your damages.

You can sue a drunk driver for damages related to:

Medical costs
Lost wages
Pain and suffering
Permanent disabilities

Proving that the driver was drunk when they hit you is an important step in any drunk driving accident claim. If the police did not show up at the scene, then you could be in a difficult situation, which is why you should always call 911 if you have been hit by a driver who appears to be intoxicated. If the police did show up and make an arrest, then you could have an easier time proving that the other driver was drunk. Police reports and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level records are two powerful forms of evidence that our attorneys can use to your advantage.

Can Bars Be Liable for Drunk Driving Accidents?

Michigan has a dram shop law that allows drunk driving accident victims to sometimes hold an alcohol vendor partially liable for their damages, not just the drunk driving. This additional option can help ensure that you are able to get all the damages you need before hitting an insurance policy cap.

A vendor can be held liable for an accident if it sold alcohol to someone who was:

Visibly intoxicated; or
Under the age of 21

Vendors are bars, restaurants, speakeasies, and other business establishments. Vendors are not social hosts, like someone who hosts a party in their house where teenagers get access to alcohol.

Unlike many other states, Michigan’s dram shop law allows you to hold a vendor liable for serving alcohol to someone underage even if they did not appear to be. For example, if a teenager tricks a barkeep with a fake ID, gets drunk, leaves the bar, and crashes into you, then you can still sue the bar for damages despite it having been deceived. This law places a strong responsibility on all alcohol vendors to check identifications carefully.

What If the Drunk Driver Fled the Scene?

When a drunk driver flees the scene of a crash they cause, it is a serious problem. You need to call the police immediately and tell them what happened. Provide as much information as you can about who hit you, and they just might be able to track them down.

If the driver is never identified, though, then you can use your uninsured motorist (UM) insurance policy to seek coverage, assuming you have this type of insurance. UM insurance will pay for your damages up to the policy’s cap if you are hit by a motorist with no insurance or one who cannot be identified. But you have to buy this coverage as a bonus for most policies.

Your Case Deserves Powerful Representation

Let our Pontiac drunk driving accident lawyers help you decide how to progress your case after a drunk driver hits you. There could be several options, and we want to make certain you are choosing the one that gives you the greatest chances of success. Contact us online or call us at 248-838-0635 now to learn more.