Personal injury claims involving a drunk or drugged driver have some special features.
When a driver is convicted for driving under the influence (DUI) in criminal court, this can greatly strengthen a civil claim for personal injuries caused by that driver. This is because the standard of proof is higher in criminal court than in civil court.
To learn about penalties for DUI, click here.
If you testify as a witness or victim in a DUI case, click here to learn how to prepare and what to expect.
However, since many insurance policies don’t cover injuries due to DUI (or other criminal acts), a criminal conviction can make it harder for a victim to collect compensation for his or her injuries.
In addition to the compensatory damages available in any personal injury case (to compensate the victim for medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, etc.), victims of drunk drivers can also entitle to other forms of recovery.