Drunk Driver Accident Lawyers New York, NY

If your loved one was killed by a drunk driver, your family members are probably experiencing deep grief and need our drunk driver accident lawyers in New York, NY from Okun, Oddo & Babat, P.C. for help. You may be feeling a lot of anger toward the person who chose to get behind the wheel. Because of their actions, your loved one paid the price and this is a tremendous tragedy.

Though nothing can reverse the events that led to your horrific loss, the U.S. justice system allows for survivors of victims to seek justice in the form of a civil lawsuit against the individual responsible. This is separate from any criminal charges that the local prosecutor may opt to pursue against the DUI motorist.

A successful wrongful death civil suit with assistance from our NY drunk driver accident lawyers, will not result in the driver going to prison. However, the defendant will be legally obligated to pay your family a sum of money as determined by the judge and jury, to bring justice in light of your loved one losing their life.

The amount of the financial award can make it possible to pay the funeral and burial costs, medical bills, and replace the wages your loved one would have otherwise earned in their lifetime. It may also be a painful punishment for the motorist who chose to drive when they should not have even considered it. A successful lawsuit may also raise awareness in the community that driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not acceptable. In other words, a successful lawsuit might save the lives of others.

Wrongful Death Civil Lawsuits
Because criminal charges can only be brought by law enforcement and the prosecutor’s office and not by a private citizen, it can be a frustrating and demoralizing realization that when it comes to the DUI motorist receiving jail time, it’s out of their hands. A prosecutor may believe that the motorist was DUI and responsible for causing the fatal accident, but if there is insufficient evidence for an almost certain conviction, the prosecutor may choose to let the person go without charging them.

Meanwhile, the grieving family is left feeling helpless, frustrated, and angry. Though there may not have been sufficient grounds to prosecute the driver, in a civil trial the bar for a conviction is much lower than that of a criminal trial. In other words, it is often easier to find a defendant guilty in a civil trial as compared to a criminal trial. For this reason alone, the family of a DUI victim may wish to approach our drunk driver accident lawyers New York residents trust at Okun, Oddo & Babat, P.C. about representing them in a lawsuit against the driver.

Certain criteria must be met for a lawsuit to have merit. If it is without merit, a judge is likely to throw it out of court, something which our team is eager to avoid. When you meet with an attorney during the initial consultation, it is in your best interest to provide us with as much quality information as possible to establish that indeed you have a strong case.

Prior to your consultation with our New York drunk driver accident lawyers, organize your notes, make sure they are legible, and provide as much relevant documentation as you can, including the police report, witness statements, and any other information you have collected. If your loved one was killed by a DUI motorist, a civil lawsuit may be your best option for getting justice.

Holding DUI Drivers Accountable
If you’ve been seriously injured or lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a drunk driver, you are entitled to compensation. Under New York State law, drunk drivers can be held legally accountable and required to pay money damages to the victims of their recklessness.

Juries tend to have very negative attitudes toward defendants who are proven to be guilty of drunk driving. Auto insurance companies are well aware of this fact, so they are often anxious to avoid trial on auto accident claims involving drunk drivers.

At the law firm of Okun, Oddo & Babat in New York City, we represent clients throughout New York in drunk driver accident cases. You will not pay anything unless we win your case. Contact us or call us at 212.642.0950 today for a free consultation with our Lawyers for drunk driver accident in NY from Okun, Oddo & Babat, P.C.