Mobile Drunk Driving Accidents Lawyers

Representation for DUI Victims in Alabama

Injured in an accident by a drunk driver? With an extensive history of successful case results and a multitude of professional awards for industry excellence, let the Mobile drunk driving accident lawyers at Cunningham Bounds represent you. Our law firm was first founded in 1958, and we have fought hard for the fair treatment of the injured ever since. With over 60 years of experience, you know you can trust your drunk driving claim with our Mobile law firm.

Contact us Online today or by phone at (251) 299-0101. Our Mobile drunk driving accident attorneys can review your DUI accident case in a free, confidential consultation.

How Alcohol Impairs Driving

Alcohol impairs your ability to operate a vehicle in several ways:

• Cognitive Impairment: Alcohol affects your brain functions, including judgment, decision-making, and reasoning. When you're under the influence, you may struggle to make sound decisions while driving, such as judging distances, assessing risks, or reacting to unexpected situations on the road.
• Decreased Coordination and Motor Skills: Alcohol affects your coordination and fine motor skills, which are crucial for operating a vehicle safely. This impairment can affect your ability to steer the vehicle, maintain proper lane position, use turn signals, and apply brakes effectively.
• Slowed Reaction Time: Alcohol slows down your reaction time. This means it takes longer for you to respond to hazards or changing road conditions. Even a split-second delay in reacting to a situation can increase the likelihood of accidents, especially at higher speeds.
• Reduced Vision and Hearing: Alcohol can impair your vision, making it difficult to see clearly, especially at night. It can also affect your depth perception and peripheral vision, which are essential for driving safely. Additionally, alcohol can impair your hearing, making it harder to detect sirens, horns, or other auditory cues on the road.
• Overconfidence and Risk-Taking Behavior: Alcohol can reduce inhibitions and lead to overconfidence. This may cause drivers to take unnecessary risks, such as speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, or attempting dangerous maneuvers they wouldn't consider while sober.
• Drowsiness and Fatigue: Alcohol can exacerbate feelings of drowsiness and fatigue, which are already significant factors in causing accidents. Combining alcohol with fatigue can impair your ability to stay alert and focused while driving, increasing the risk of falling asleep at the wheel or experiencing a lapse in attention.

Alabama Drunk Driving Laws

In Alabama, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher for adults 21 and over. For commercial drivers, the limit is lower at 0.04%.

The state has a "zero-tolerance" policy for drivers under the age of 21. Any detectable amount of alcohol in their system while operating a motor vehicle is grounds for license suspension and other penalties.

Alabama has an implied consent law, which means that by obtaining a driver's license, individuals agree to submit to chemical tests to determine BAC if suspected of driving under the influence. Refusal to take a chemical test can result in automatic license suspension.

Penalties for DUI (Driving Under the Influence) convictions in Alabama can vary based on factors such as prior offenses and aggravating circumstances. However, typical penalties may include fines, license suspension, mandatory alcohol education or treatment programs, community service, and even jail time. The severity of the penalties increases with subsequent offenses.

Alabama may impose enhanced penalties for DUI offenses involving aggravating factors such as high BAC levels, accidents causing injury or death, or driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Important Evidence in Drunk Driving Accident Claims

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 20% of all car accidents are caused by or involve an intoxicated driver. This equates to thousands of drunk driving accidents every day. If you or someone you love was injured by a drunk driver, then you need to know what to do next to get compensation and justice.

When you need to file an accident claim, the evidence you have that backs up your statements is crucial. Even though it might be clear to you that the other driver’s intoxication is the root and sole cause of your collision, it may not be so obvious to others.

The defending insurance company will jump at the chance to reduce any payout. Our attorneys move with the same urgency to make sure your rights are not overlooked, that you are treated fairly and that you receive maximum compensation from the accountable parties.

Sources of evidence that could prove useful for your injury claim include:

• Conviction: Although criminal courts of law operate separately from civil courts, a driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI) conviction of the person who hit you can be a powerful indicator of liability to use in your case.
• BAC report: The evidence the police collected at the scene of your crash should also be utilized to your advantage. In particular, if the defendant took a breathalyzer test that showed he or she had an illegally high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level at the time of the crash, our attorneys will use that evidence as part of your injury claim.
• Criminal record: There may also be useful proof of the defendant’s recklessness within their own criminal or driving record. A history of DUI convictions, speeding citations, and so forth can also show that a person has a tendency to put others in danger. This is especially important if you are hit by a commercial driver and there is evidence that his or her employer knew about this criminal history and continued to permit them to drive commercial vehicles.

Of course, traditional forms of evidence used in any other type of car accident claim will be useful for your DUI accident claim as well. For example, eyewitness testimonies, dash-cam footage, and photographs taken on your cell phone can all benefit your case. Our firm is equipped with a team of investigators that are highly-experienced and work side-by-side with our attorneys to secure the evidence necessary to prove your case.

Fighting for Every Penny of Compensation You Deserve

Our Mobile DUI accident attorneys will work diligently to analyze your case and determine what damages should be repaid to you. The compensation you collect should help pay for medical costs, rehabilitation services, lost wages, property repair or replacement, and non-economic damages, like pain and suffering. We will work tirelessly for you.

Call (251) 299-0101 or contact us online to put a top-rated Alabama Personal Injury law firm in your corner.