Queens Alcohol-Related Accidents Lawyer

According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year thousands of people are injured or killed in alcohol-related car accidents. Victims of drunk driving accidents are not only passengers and occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists are also frequent victims. Sadly many children are killed each year in alcohol-related accidents. Driving while impaired by alcohol is dangerous as such people are impaired by alcohol tend to exhibit reckless behavior. For example, impaired drivers are more likely to speed, drive too slowly, run through red lights, make unsafe lane changes, and fail to yield the right of way. All of these negligent behaviors raise the risk of a collision, injury and death. Because drivers who are impaired often drive recklessly, they are more likely to be involved in head-on or side collisions at high speeds. The result is often catastrophic. Victims suffer injuries that require long recovery times with expensive treatments and rehabilitation. Thankfully, under New York law victims of car accidents are allowed to seek compensation from the person whose negligence resulted in the car accident. If you sustained serious injuries in a car accident, contact an experienced Queens alcohol-related accidents lawyer who will help ensure that the person responsible for your losses is held financially accountable in a personal injury claim.

A driver's ability to safely operate a vehicle is compromised after drinking even a small amount of alcohol. The more alcohol consumed, the more dangerous the driver is to other drivers on the road. For example, after consuming a relatively low amount of alcohol (BAC .02%), people experience a loss of some judgment, are more relaxed and feel warmer. As a result there is a decline in visual functions and a decline in the ability to perform 2 tasks at one time.

After drinking a modest amount of alcohol (BAC .05%), people experience diminished small muscle control, have compromised judgment, experience reduced alertness, feel good, and are less inhibited. As a result there is reduced coordination, reduced ability to track moving objects, difficultly in steering and reduced response to driving emergency situations.

After reaching a BAC of .08%, people have poor muscle coordination, poor reaction time, impaired judgment and impaired self-control. As a result there is poor concentration, short-term memory loss, and impaired perception.

Should someone continue to drink so that his or her BAC climbs her than .08%, their ability to safely operate a vehicle will continue to decline, and the likelihood of an accident will increase.

If you were injured by drunk driver, contact an experienced Queens alcohol-related accidents lawyer. Drunk driving is not only negligent, it is also a crime. Those convicted of drunk driving offenses may face jail, fines, and license suspension.

The criminal action taken against them is separate from the civil action. The victims have the right to take civil action by pursuing a personal injury claims. The types of compensation that you may be able to recover if you file a claim against the negligent person include:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning potential
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages
• Property damage
• Wrongful death

It is important to understand that defendants in an alcohol-related accident could be not only the drunk driver, but also the individual, bar or restaurant who provided the alcohol to the drunk driver.

If you were injured in a car accident that you believe was caused because the driver was impaired by alcohol, it is important that you are represented by someone with experience. Car accident cases can be complicated, relying on an understanding of personal injury law as well as procedural rules. The staff at Stephen Bilkis & Associates has extensive experience representing clients injured in car accidents, construction accidents, truck accidents, as well as other types of accidents. Contact an experienced alcohol-related accidents attorney serving Queens at Stephen Bilkis & Associates at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your car accident. We serve clients in the following locations: Queens, Westchester County, Suffolk County, Staten Island, Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, and Nassau County.