Paramus Auto Accident Attorneys Hold Drunk Drivers Accountable

Skilled trial lawyers pursue full compensation for victims’ injuries

Despite having some of the toughest drunk driving penalties in the United States, New Jersey has a serious DUI problem. NJ Health and Human Services reports that NJ authorities rack up about 26,500 DUI related convictions every year. The year 2021 saw 443,000 people arrested on suspicion of DUI nationwide, but about 11.2 percent of those arrests happened in our Garden State. Despite the high incidence of DUI, New Jersey has one of the lowest rates of DUI fatalities, but low does not mean zero, and a single loss of life due to drunk driving is too many. If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in an accident caused by a drunk driver, Razi & Giampa Law in Paramus is ready to help. We are proven trial lawyers, who are determined to obtain the maximum damage amount possible under the facts of your case.

As if alcohol wasn’t bad enough

In 2021, after the COVID lockdowns were lifted, New Jersey experienced a 30 percent spike in DUI crashes. That year, there were DUI 667 crashes resulting in 697 deaths in New Jersey. A significant portion of the increase in crash deaths was attributed to drug intoxication, particularly cannabis. Out of 210 drug-intoxicated drivers, 91 were impaired by cannabis. Additionally, 23 pedestrians, 13 passengers, and 2 cyclists involved in crashes were determined to be under the influence of cannabis. Drug intoxication can complicate a case, since metrics for intoxication and diagnostics to measure drug levels are not firmly established.

What to do after a DUI accident in New Jersey

You know the drill. The law requires you to exchange license and insurance information with the other driver. But when dealing with a drunk driver, those rules might be unreasonable. A drunk is liable to be belligerent, perhaps violent. You shouldn’t risk an altercation. Rather, remain in your car (if it’s safe to do so), call the police, and wait for them to arrive. When the cops get there, alert them to your suspicion that the driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you can do it without antagonizing the drunk driver, take cellphone video that might confirm your suspicions.

When you feel it’s safe, you can document the accident scene, vehicle damage, and injuries by taking cellphone photos. You should also talk to potential witnesses and get their contact information. Then, get medical attention for your injuries, contact your insurance company, and call our law firm.

New Jersey dram shop and social host laws

Drunk drivers are not the only parties who can be held accountable for DUI accidents. New Jersey’s Dram Shop Law also allows an injured person to pursue damages from businesses that sell alcohol when:

• The buyer is visibly intoxicated at the time of service
• The driver is under the age of 21

A similar law applies to social hosts. If a host serves alcohol to guests at a private party or in their home, the host can be liable if:

• A guest was visibly intoxicated and the host should have known of their condition.
• The host provided intoxicating beverages “under circumstances manifesting reckless disregard for the consequences.”
• Serving intoxicating beverages created an unreasonable risk of harm for individuals or property.
• A vehicle that left the host’s home after the driver was served alcohol was involved in a crash

Our attorneys thoroughly investigate the facts of your crash to determine whether the Dram Shop Law or the social host law applies. If so, we can pursue those parties to pay damages in your case.

Contact Razi & Giampa Law in Paramus for a free drunk-driving accident consultation

Razi & Giampa Law in Paramus provides highly professional and personalized legal services for victims of drunk driving accidents in Bergen County and throughout New Jersey. To schedule a free consultation at our office, in your home, or at the hospital, call us today at 201-534-5011 or contact our firm online.