A drunk driver’s reckless actions shatter lives in moments. If a drunk driver injured you, you may need guidance and support. A Bakersfield drunk driving accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Mickey Fine helps you seek justice and compensation for your losses. 

Call us at (661) 333-3333 for a free case consultation.

Bakersfield Drunk Driving Accident Guide:

Why Choose Law Offices of Mickey Fine for Your Bakersfield Drunk Driving Accident Case?

Mickey Fine, abogado de lesiones personales de Bakersfield

After a drunk driving accident, you need a legal team that understands your specific situation and our community. The Law Offices of Mickey Fine focuses on helping victims like you right here in Bakersfield. 

We’re deeply committed to our clients in Bakersfield and throughout Kern County.

We Fight for Drunk Driving Victims

Our firm helps people who are hurt by careless acts, especially in DUI incidents. We know the harm drunk drivers cause in our Bakersfield community, and it fuels our commitment. We fight hard for the rights of people harmed in drunk driving accidents, giving each case the serious attention it needs.

We understand the tremendous physical, emotional, and financial challenges you might face. Our goal is to lift the complex legal tasks from your shoulders so you can focus on healing. 

A Bakersfield drunk driving accident lawyer from our team is ready to listen to your story with care and give clear advice.

We Know Kern County

The Law Offices of Mickey Fine is a truly local Kern County law firm, with our office right in Bakersfield. We know the Bakersfield courts, local ways of doing things, and other legal professionals well. Our deep local knowledge helps build a strong case for your DUI accident.

We serve clients from all parts of Bakersfield, from Rosedale to East Bakersfield, and from nearby cities like Delano, Taft, and Shafter. We have a real connection to this area and its people. We want to help our neighbors get the justice and money they deserve after a traumatic drunk-driving crash. 

We Know How To Handle Difficult DUI Accident Claims

Drunk driving accident claims often have unique and complex parts that differ from other car accidents. Our firm has the knowledge and experience to investigate these cases thoroughly, searching for all relevant evidence. 

Advocates for Fair Recovery and Justice

We believe every victim of a drunk driver deserves strong, dedicated legal help. A Bakersfield drunk driving accident lawyer from our firm acts as your determined helper through the whole legal process. 

For a dedicated legal partner, contact the Law Offices of Mickey Fine at (661) 333-3333 to discuss your Bakersfield DUI accident case in a free consultation.

Compensation in a Bakersfield Drunk Driving Accident Claim

If a drunk driver injured you, you may receive payment for your losses. This payment, called damages, tries to cover what you’ve been through. A Bakersfield drunk driving accident lawyer helps you go after all the damages you deserve.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are for the actual money losses you suffered. These are often easier to add up because they usually have bills or receipts. Your Bakersfield DUI accident attorney helps gather proof of these costs.

Common economic damages include:

  • Medical Expenses: This covers everything from the ambulance ride and emergency room care to hospital stays, surgeries, doctor visits, medicine, and physical therapy. It also includes expected future medical care for your injuries.
  • Lost Wages: If your injuries kept you from working, you may recover your lost pay. This includes salary, wages, bonuses, and other money you missed.
  • Loss of Earning Capacity: If your injuries are permanent and affect your ability to earn money in the future, you may receive payment for this long-term loss. 
  • Property Damage: This compensation usually covers repairing or replacing your car if it was damaged in a drunk driving wreck. It might also cover other personal items damaged in the crash.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages pay you for losses that don’t have a direct price tag. These address the human cost of the accident. They are very real and can be quite large.

Non-economic damages may include:

  • Pain and Suffering: This is for the physical pain, discomfort, and general suffering you had due to your injuries from the accident.
  • Emotional Distress: If you suffered a physical injury, you may also receive payment for emotional distress, such as worry, sadness, fear, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or sleep problems.
  • Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If your injuries stop you from enjoying daily activities, hobbies, or life as you did before, you may receive payment.

Punitive Damages

In some drunk driving accident cases, punitive damages might be given. Unlike economic and non-economic damages that pay you, punitive damages are meant to punish the drunk driver for their reckless actions. 

California law allows for punitive damages when a defendant’s actions show malice, oppression, or fraud. Driving under the influence often meets this definition. Your Bakersfield drunk driving accident lawyer will check if punitive damages are an option in your case. 

Holding Drunk Drivers Accountable in Bakersfield

When a drunk driver causes an accident in Bakersfield, they create victims. Holding these drivers responsible is a key part of healing for many. A Bakersfield DUI accident attorney plays a vital role in this search for justice.

The legal system has two main ways to deal with drunk driving. One is the criminal case, and the other is your civil claim. Both are important.

Criminal Case vs. Your Civil Claim

The state, through the District Attorney’s office, handles the criminal case against the drunk driver. This case focuses on punishing the driver for breaking the law. 

Your civil claim is separate, and your Bakersfield DUI accident lawyer helps. Your civil lawsuit aims to get you a monetary payment for your injuries and losses directly from the drunk driver or their insurance. 

The result of the criminal case might help your civil claim, but they are separate. Even if the driver isn’t found guilty criminally, you may still win your civil case.

Why Your Civil Claim Matters

Your civil claim is about recognizing your suffering. While no amount of money can undo the harm, payment helps cover medical bills, lost pay, and other considerable costs. It gives resources for your recovery and future.

Each successful claim against a drunk driver sends a message through the Bakersfield community. It shows that drunk drivers are responsible for the damage they cause. 

By pursuing your claim, you’re helping make Kern County a safer community for everyone. Your actions may help prevent future sad events. 

How a Bakersfield Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Helps You

Mickey Fine – Principal Attorney

Handling the results of a drunk driving accident is very hard, but a Bakersfield drunk driving accident attorney from the Law Offices of Mickey Fine takes on the legal tasks for you. We manage your case so you can focus on your recovery.

Your lawyer acts as your guide and voice. We protect your rights and fight for fair payment. Here’s how we help you.

Investigating Your Bakersfield DUI Accident

A full investigation is key to a strong claim. Your Bakersfield DUI crash lawyer will quickly look into the details. This means getting the official police report and checking all available proof.

We may also talk to witnesses who saw the accident. Sometimes, we work with accident reconstruction professionals. 

Proving Fault and Intoxication

Your claim needs to show that the other driver was at fault for you to get paid. Your attorney gathers proof of the driver’s intoxication, including breath test results, blood tests, or field sobriety test records.

We also show how their drunk driving directly led to your injuries and losses. This link is key to your claim.

Calculating All Your Damages

Many people don’t realize the full amount of their losses after an accident. Your lawyer helps find and add up all your damages, including current and future medical bills, lost pay, future lost ability to earn if your injuries are long-term, pain and suffering, and property damage.

Handling Insurance Communications

Dealing with insurance adjusters is stressful and often tricky. They may try to get you to accept a low payment or say things that hurt your claim. Your Bakersfield drunk driving accident attorney handles all talks with all insurance companies.

We protect you from accidentally hurting your own case and offer defense against lowball settlement offers and tactics.

Negotiating a Fair Settlement

Most personal injury cases, including drunk driving accidents, settle out of court. Your lawyer is a skilled negotiator, shows your robust case to the insurance company, and bargains for a full and fair payment.

We keep you informed throughout this process and advise you on any payment offers. However, you always have the final choice to accept an offer.

Taking Your Case to Trial if Needed

While we aim to settle, sometimes insurance companies refuse to be fair. If a fair payment isn’t possible, your Bakersfield drunk driving accident attorney is ready to take your case to trial. Our firm is ready to fight for your rights in the courtroom. 

FAQ for Bakersfield Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

What Should I Do Immediately After a Drunk Driving Accident in Bakersfield?

If you’ve already received medical attention, the next steps focus on protecting your rights. Make sure an official police report was filed for the accident, and collect the other driver’s name, insurance details, and contact information for any witnesses. 

If possible, take photos of the vehicles, the accident scene, and your injuries, then contact a Bakersfield DUI accident lawyer to understand your legal options.

How Long Do I Have To File a Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuit in California?

In California, the time limit for personal injury claims, including drunk driving accidents, is usually two years from the date of the injury. There are some exceptions that might shorten or lengthen this time, so it’s very important to speak with a lawyer quickly. 

Missing this deadline means you likely lose your right to seek payment forever.

What if the Drunk Driver Who Hit Me Has No Insurance or Not Enough Insurance?

This is a common worry. If the drunk driver has no insurance or too little insurance, you still have options if you have Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your own car insurance. 

This coverage steps in to pay for your damages up to your policy limits. A Bakersfield drunk driving accident lawyer can help you handle a UM/UIM claim with your own insurer, which can sometimes be challenging.

Can I Still Get Compensation if I Was Partially at Fault for the Accident?

California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means you may still get damages even if you were partly at fault for the accident. However, your payment will be lowered by your share of fault. 

For example, if you were found 20% at fault, your total payment award would be lowered by 20%. A lawyer helps argue for your lowest possible share of fault.

Will the Drunk Driver Go to Jail, and Does That Help My Bakersfield Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer?

The drunk driver might face criminal charges, which could lead to jail time, fines, and other penalties, but their criminal case is separate from your civil claim for payment. 

While a criminal conviction can sometimes strengthen your civil case (for example, as proof of impaired driving), your civil claim can succeed even if the driver isn’t convicted or jailed. 

Your Bakersfield DUI accident attorney focuses on recovering your money for your injuries and losses, no matter the criminal result.

Your Path to Justice Starts Here

Mickey Fine, abogado de lesiones personales de BakersfieldThe road to recovery after being hit by a drunk driver is often long and hard. You’ve faced an unfair trauma due to someone else’s reckless choice. Now, it’s time to seek the justice and financial stability you need to heal and rebuild.

Our Bakersfield Personal injury lawyer at Law Offices of Mickey Fine is ready to fight for your cause. We help Bakersfield drunk driving accident victims get the compensation they deserve. Let us take the legal weight off your shoulders. 

Call us now at (661) 333-3333 for a free case evaluation.

Law Offices of Mickey Fine – Bakersfield Office

930 Truxtun Ave, #110
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 333-3333