Kentucky Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys
Drunk drivers are a common cause of serious injuries and deaths in motor vehicle accidents in Kentucky each year. At Bryant Law Center P.S.C., we know how immensely a drunk driving accident can impact victims and their loved ones. Our dedicated personal injury lawyers are passionate about bringing drunk drivers to justice. We can guide you through your claim in pursuit of the outcome that you deserve.
Why Choose Us?
- We treat our clients like family. We are empathetic toward our clients and their pain. Your Kentucky personal injury lawyer will understand what you’re going through and how to help you put your life back together after you’ve been a victim of a drunk driving accident in Kentucky.
- Bryant Law Center P.S.C.has achieved record-setting results on past car accident claims. We have recovered over $100 million in verdicts & settlements using a team approach and aggressive legal tactics. If your case doesn’t settle, we have the power to go to trial.
- We accept drunk driver and dram shop liability cases in Kentucky on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t pay your lawyer unless he or she obtains financial compensation for you.
Do You Need to Hire an Attorney?
A drunk driving accident attorney has invaluable information, knowledge, experience and resources to put toward building your drunk driving accident claim. A car insurance company is much less likely to try to take advantage of you if an attorney is representing your best interests. While no law in Kentucky requires you to hire a car accident lawyer in Kentucky, doing so is wise if any of the following are true:
- You want an experienced attorney to handle the legal process for you.
- You wish to focus on healing from your injuries rather than a complicated legal claim.
- You wish to explore all of your options for making a financial recovery.
- An auto insurance company has denied your claim or is refuting liability.
- You suffered serious or catastrophic injuries because of a drunk driver.
- A loved one passed away in a fatal drunk driving accident in Kentucky.
There are many reasons to hire an attorney to represent you during a lawsuit against a drunk driver and/or dram shop. At Bryant Law Center P.S.C., we offer free case consultations at our local law offices in Louisville and Paducah at no obligation to hire our law firm. You can speak to an attorney about your drunk driving accident case at no financial risk.
Kentucky’s Drunk Driving Laws
Alcohol involvement caused 2,662 injuries and 181 deaths in traffic accidents in 2020, according to data from the Kentucky State Police. In Kentucky, it is against the law to operate or be in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicating substance. A driver is legally intoxicated if he or she has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level at or above 0.08 percent.
The legal BAC limit decreases for commercial and underage drivers. A driver who breaks Kentucky’s DUI law could face criminal consequences, such as an arrest, extensive fines and jail time. If a legally intoxicated driver causes a car accident, he or she may also be required to pay for the associated damages, typically through the driver’s auto insurance policy.
How to File a Car Insurance Claim Against a Drunk Driver in Kentucky
If you get injured in a car accident caused by a driver who was under the influence of alcohol, your first step is to call the police. Reporting drunk driving accidents is critical not only to comply with Kentucky law but to obtain a police report that could have evidence of the other driver’s intoxication. Before you can file a car insurance claim, you will need to understand Kentucky’s “choice no-fault” system.
As a driver in Kentucky, you have the choice to either give up your right to sue or reject these limitations by filing a special waiver with the Department of Insurance. If you did not reject no-fault insurance, you must file a claim with your own car insurance provider, even if a drunk driver caused your crash. There are exceptions, however, for accidents that result in broken bones, permanent injuries or disfigurement, wrongful death, or at least $1,000 in medical expenses.
If you did file the no-restrictions waiver or the drunk driving accident gave you injuries that meet the state’s tort threshold, you can hold the drunk driver responsible by filing a claim with his or her auto insurance company. You or your lawyer will need to prove that the driver caused your accident due to intoxication, such as with a police report, Breathalyzer test results or a DUI conviction.
What Is a Dram Shop Claim? When Can You Hold a Dram Shop Liable for a Drunk Driving Accident?
If the drunk driver who caused your crash was over-served at a bar, club or restaurant, then you may also have a dram shop liability case. A dram shop is a commercial establishment that sells alcoholic beverages.
Many drunk driving accident victims do not know they may also hold a third party responsible such as a dram shop or a licensed alcohol vendor.
What many drunk driving accident victims do not know is that they may also hold a third party responsible for a drunk driving accident: a dram shop, or a licensed alcohol vendor. Section 413.241(2) of the Kentucky Revised Statutes places limited liability on licensed sellers or servers of alcohol for accidents and injuries caused by individuals served. This law states that if an establishment (such as a bar, club or restaurant) furnishes alcohol to someone who is obviously intoxicated, the establishment may be held liable for any accidents that person causes.
Dram shop liability is limited to the condition that a reasonable person would have detected that the individual was already intoxicated in a similar situation. The law also does not apply to social hosts, as it does in some states. Someone who furnishes a drunk driver with alcohol at a party or social function cannot be held liable under Kentucky’s dram shop laws. The entity being held accountable must have had a license to serve or sell alcohol in Kentucky.
Get Help From a Kentucky Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
If you or someone close to you was recently injured in a car accident involving a drunk driver in Kentucky, don’t hesitate to contact Bryant Law Center P.S.C. for assistance. Our personal injury lawyers can carefully review your auto accident, discuss your rights in further detail and let you know if your case has merit. Then, we may offer to go up against a drunk driver and/or dram shop in pursuit of justice and fair financial compensation on your behalf. Request your free consultation today by sending us a message or calling (270) 550-1230.