Cherry Hill Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Driving under the influence is exceptionally dangerous, not just to the driver and their passengers but also to everyone else sharing the road with that vehicle.

In 2022, there were 236,702 reported crashes in New Jersey, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Additional New Jersey State Police data shows that that same year, 646 reported fatal crashes caused 689 deaths. Of those fatal crashes, more than a quarter involved a driver who had consumed some amount of alcohol and more than half of those were over the legal limit.

While there isn’t data on how many of the total crashes involved a driver who was under the influence, a significant percentage were almost certainly caused by a drunk driver. Even when under the legal limit, drinking any amount of alcohol can impair reaction time, awareness, focus, and more, significantly increasing the risk of a crash.

If you or a loved one was seriously injured or killed by a drunk driver in South Jersey, you deserve the chance to fight for compensation to pay for medical bills, pain and suffering, property damage, and more. Folkman Law can help.

Each Cherry Hill drunk driving accident lawyer in our office is committed to providing injured victims with the dedicated and sophisticated legal representation they can count on to fight for and secure the maximum compensation possible. So, if you’re hurt, reach out for an initial consultation.

How Often Do People Drive While Drunk?

Despite the near-universal knowledge that driving drunk or high is both dangerous and illegal, it still happens with shocking regularity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 1 million people are arrested for driving under the influence across the US every year and even more drive under the influence without being arrested.

While not the only substances impaired drivers use, alcohol and marijuana are far and away the most commonly used. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), more than 24 million people drove under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, or other illicit drugs. The breakdown of statistics was as follows:

• More than 15 million operated their vehicles while under the influence of alcohol
• At least 12 million people drove after having consumed marijuana
• More than 2 million people drove under the influence of other illicit drugs

There is some overlap of people who drive under the influence of multiple substances, including multiple substances at the same time.

Alcohol and Marijuana Affects a Motorist’s Ability To Drive

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) contends that each substance can affect a driver differently. The type and amount of a substance consumed matters. To illustrate this point, NHTSA highlights how:

• Cocaine and methamphetamine can make drivers more reckless and aggressive
• Marijuana can severely inhibit reaction times and the ability to accurately judge distances

One of the most dangerous aspects of drunk or drugged driving is that the person under the influence of a substance cannot accurately judge how impaired they actually are.

While there is a “legal” limit on how much alcohol can be consumed before it becomes illegal to get behind the wheel of a car, even a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .02, well below the limit, can impair a driver’s judgment, leading to a potentially fatal crash as opposed to a safe ride home. If a motorist’s misjudgment or recklessly caused you or a close relative to get hurt in a crash, get in touch with our drunk driving accident lawyers in Cherry Hill.

Serious injuries can not only cause physical damage but lasting psychological damage as well. Even in what could be called a ‘minor’ accident, it’s not uncommon for the victim to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can make it extremely difficult to get back behind the wheel of a car without extensive treatment.

What To Do After a Collision With an Intoxicated Motorist in Camden County

If you are in a car crash with a suspected drunk driver, it’s imperative that you have the police come to the scene to make a report. This is key because if they cite the motorist who struck you for driving while intoxicated (DWI), this could help prove another driver is liable for what happened to you.

It’s important to get yourself checked out by a medical professional. You should do this for several reasons, including to ensure that you have a detailed record of your health immediately following the crash. This medical report can be invaluable in your case and will help you prove exactly what injuries were the direct result of the accident.

Contacting a Cherry Hill drunk driving accident lawyer is also important if you’re seriously hurt. They can not only help you understand your rights but any steps you may need to take to ensure you have a strong case.

Who Can You Hold Liable for Your Crash-Related Injuries?

If you were involved in a crash with a drunk driver, you absolutely have the right to file a lawsuit to seek damages to help cover the costs associated with your accident. If you opt to take legal action, the following are some of the many parties you may be able to hold accountable for injuries and other losses you sustained in the crash:

Another Driver

Under New Jersey law, you can still take legal action, even if you could potentially be held partially at fault for the collision. Our state uses what’s known as a modified comparative negligence rule. Under comparative fault, as long as you are 50% or less at fault for the accident, you can still recover damages. However, your potential settlement will be decreased by your percentage of fault.

A Venue That Overserved the Person Who Hit You

In certain circumstances, you could also file a lawsuit against the bar, club, or other establishment that over-served the drunk driver with alcohol. This is what’s known as dram shop liability — under New Jersey law, these businesses are required to responsibly serve alcohol to their patrons and can be held liable for facilitating the person from getting so drunk they caused a crash.

In order to pursue this type of claim, it needs to be proven that the person was either visibly intoxicated and still being served or that the business knowingly served alcohol to someone under the age of 21. Whether or not you are considering filing a dram shop claim, it’s important to work with a drunk driving accident lawyer in Cherry Hill who has a complete understanding of the nuances surrounding these laws in order to put you in the best position to secure maximum compensation.