Sterling Heights Drunk Driving Injury Lawyer

Injured by a Drunk Driver? Our Top-Rated Personal Injury Attorneys Will Fight for the Compensation You Deserve

Drunk and drug-impaired driving causes thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths on Michigan roads each year. Impaired drivers endanger other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians, causing accidents, injuries, and often fatalities.

If you’ve been injured or lost someone you love in a drunk driving crash, speak to an experienced Sterling Heights DUI injury lawyer today. The team at Sommers Schwartz, P.C. can help.

Michigan Drunk Driving Injury Statistics

Despite years of public education campaigns and laws prohibiting impaired driving, many drivers continue to get behind the wheel after drinking or while impaired by drugs. In 2023, the Michigan State Police (MSP) recorded 8,817 alcohol-involved crashes and 2,250 drug-involved crashes on Michigan roads.

Drunk and drugged driving accidents are frequently fatal. A staggering 41% of all Michigan crash deaths in 2023 involved alcohol, drugs, or both. Alcohol-related collisions killed 297 people, while 256 people lost their lives in drug-involved collisions. In addition to driver and passenger fatalities, forty pedestrians, eight bicyclists, and one snowmobile operator died in alcohol-related collisions.

Even non-fatal crashes often cause catastrophic injuries. In 2023, nearly 20% of alcohol-related crashes caused serious injuries, affecting 779 people. Another 2,899 victims suffered moderate or minor injuries.

The 2023 statistics showed that victims of alcohol-related crashes were 9.3 times more likely to die and 5.8 times more likely to suffer serious injuries than those involved in collisions that did not involve alcohol.

Macomb County Drunk Driving Statistics

With nearly 875,000 residents, Macomb County is one of Michigan’s most densely populated counties. In 2023, Macomb County also recorded hundreds of drunk driving crash injuries and multiple deaths.

According to the Michigan State Police data, in Macomb County in 2023:

• Four people died in alcohol-related crashes. Six more were killed in drug-related crashes, and six died in crashes involving both alcohol and drugs.
• Two hundred ninety people were injured in alcohol-related crashes. Another 58 suffered injuries in drug-related crashes, and 79 were injured in collisions involving both drugs and alcohol.
• Three hundred fifty-two alcohol-related crashes, 43 drug-related crashes, and 28 crashes involving both substances resulted in property damage.

If you were injured in a Macomb County drunk driving collision, speak to an experienced injury attorney today.

Common Factors in Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk driving accidents can occur at any time of day and in any part of Sterling Heights or the metro Detroit area. The risk of a crash is always present.

However, statistics show drunk driving collisions are more frequent during certain times. In 2023:

• June and July had the highest rates of drunk driving injury crashes. Each month, 342 individuals recorded injuries from drunk driving collisions.
• August saw Michigan’s highest rate of 2023 drunk driving deaths, when 40 people died.
• Sunday was the most common day for drunk driving deaths (71 fatalities), followed by Saturday (55 fatalities).
• More fatal drunk driving crashes happened between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. than at any other hour of the day. The safest hours were from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. to noon, although crashes occurred at all hours of the day.

If you’ve been injured in a drunk driving crash, you need help. The experienced Sterling Heights drunk driving injury attorneys at Sommers Schwartz, P.C. can help you pursue your claim and recover the compensation you deserve.

Michigan Drunk Driving Injury Claim Basics

While a drunk driver may face criminal charges and administrative penalties (like losing their driver’s license), a personal injury case is a separate, civil proceeding. This type of case is a form of personal injury lawsuit. In a personal injury suit, the victim (or their surviving family members) files a lawsuit in civil court seeking compensation from someone whose negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions caused them harm.

Drunk driving claims must follow the Michigan laws and court procedures for personal injury claims. An attorney can explain how the rules apply in your situation and your chances of succeeding on your claims. They will also help you understand the process of pursuing a lawsuit or other claims.

Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance system limits an injury victim’s ability to sue after a car accident, but exceptions exist. Individuals must first turn to their own insurance to pay medical costs and reimburse them for lost wages, regardless of who caused the crash. However, if you suffer a serious impairment of body function, permanent serious disfigurement, or death, you may file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver or other liable party.

Time Limits on Car Crash Injury Claims

Michigan sets a three-year time limit for personal injury claims. In most cases, an injured person must begin a claim by filing a lawsuit within three years after their injury. However, the laws provide some exceptions that may lengthen or shorten the time you have to pursue your case. In some cases, calculating the three-year deadline is simple. In others, it’s challenging. An attorney can work out exactly when the deadline falls in your case. It’s best to consult an experienced attorney as soon as possible to protect your right to pursue your claim.

Types of Compensation in a Drunk Driving Accident Case

After exhausting Michigan’s no-fault compensation, individuals injured in drunk driving accidents can often sue for the excess economic losses not covered by their no-fault benefits. A drunk driving injury lawsuit seeks compensation for all losses related to your accident, including bills, expenses, and personal losses you wouldn’t have suffered if the crash hadn’t happened.

“Economic” damages are financial losses. You and your attorney will compile bills, receipts, pay stubs, and similar paperwork to calculate these losses. You may also have experts provide professional valuations of some losses, such as your reduced ability to work or future anticipated medical expenses. Common economic losses after a drunk driving collision include:

• Medical bills, including bills you’ve already paid and projected future medical expenses.
• Lost wages, including compensation for wages you have already lost, future lost wages, and any reduction in earning capacity due to your injuries.
• Property damage, such as the cost to fix or replace a car or personal items damaged in the accident.

“Non-economic” damages are personal losses. They don’t usually come with a bill or invoice attached. Yet they are real obstacles to your life and can be long-lasting. Common non-economic losses after a drunk driving crash may include:

• Physical pain and suffering.
• Mental and emotional anguish, including post-traumatic stress (PTSD), scarring, disfigurement, and other emotional trauma.
• Losing enjoyment of hobbies, home activities, and other activities you previously enjoyed.

In rare cases, a court may also award exemplary damages to compensate a victim or their family for the emotional harm they experienced. This may occur if the defendant’s misconduct is especially egregious, such as a driver with multiple previous drunk driving offenses or an exceptionally high blood alcohol level.

Every case is different. Determining how much compensation may be available in your case depends on many factors, including the circumstances of the accident, your injuries, and other considerations. An experienced Michigan drunk driving injury lawyer can help you understand the strengths, weaknesses, and potential value of your drunk driving injury case.

What Is Michigan’s “Dram Shop” Law?

Michigan’s “dram shop” law prohibits bars, restaurants, liquor stores, and other places that sell alcohol from serving anyone who is “visibly intoxicated.” If an intoxicated person purchases alcohol and subsequently causes a crash, any injured parties may be able to seek compensation from the alcohol provider. This law helps hold venues accountable for how they serve patrons and increases the chance for innocent victims to recover the compensation they deserve.

If you’re injured by a drunk driver, an experienced attorney will investigate where the driver consumed or purchased alcohol before driving. You may bring a claim against a venue that supplied alcohol to a visibly drunk patron or customer. To learn more about your options under Michigan’s dram shop law, speak to an experienced Sterling Heights drunk driving accident lawyer today.

Pursuing Compensation When a Criminal Case Was Also Filed

In 2023, police arrested 1,924 people in Macomb County for violating one or more of Michigan’s criminal laws prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Many of these arrests arose from accidents that caused harm.

When a drunk driver causes injuries or death in Sterling Heights, the Macomb County prosecutor’s office chooses whether to file criminal charges. These may include charges for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, causing injuries or death in a drug or alcohol related crash, child endangerment, or other violations of Michigan law.

Criminal and civil cases follow different rules and seek different outcomes. In a criminal case, state prosecutors seek to punish the driver for violating Michigan’s criminal laws. Potential penalties include jail time, suspension or revocation of their driver’s license, fines, fees, and other consequences, including a criminal record. If a convicted driver doesn’t comply with their sentence requirements (such as failing to attend a rehabilitation program or perform required community service), they may face additional criminal consequences or incarceration.

The intent of a civil case is not to punish a drunk driver. Instead, it offers an injured person or their survivors the chance to pursue monetary compensation for their losses. An injured person or the family of a deceased victim can file a civil lawsuit to recover compensation regardless of whether criminal charges were filed. However, if a criminal case has been filed against the driver who caused your injuries, it’s essential to contact an experienced injury lawyer. Your lawyer will protect your rights and interests as both cases proceed.

Contact an Experienced Sterling Heights Drunk Driving Injury Lawyer Today

If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident, you’re forced to live with the consequences of someone else’s dangerous decision. You may have significant pain, ongoing medical issues, and debilitating emotional distress. You may wonder how you’ll pay the bills, support your family, or lead a normal life again.

Pursuing a lawsuit gives you the chance to hold the drunk driver accountable for their actions and seek the compensation you deserve after an accident. To get started, contact an experienced Sterling Heights drunk driving injury lawyer.

Sommers Schwartz, P.C. has extensive experience representing those who have suffered injuries in drunk driving accidents in Sterling Heights and metro Detroit. We’ll help you prove your case and secure the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our dedicated attorneys.