The holiday season is here. While it is a time for friends, families and coworkers to gather, these occasions also lead to a well-established uptick in the number of drunk drivers on the roads. For example, on December 22-25, 2023, Connecticut State Police reported 29 DUI arrests and two fatalities, which indicates a higher-than-normal risk of accidents and injuries due to impaired driving. This trend is consistent with national patterns where the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that an average of 300 people die in drunk-driving crashes each year during the Christmas and New Year’s period. This starkly contrasts non-holiday numbers, highlighting the increased danger on the roads during these times.
Victims can hold them responsible
Drivers convicted of DUI face a variety of punishments levied by the courts. Nevertheless, victims injured by a drunk driver may also seek several types of personal injury damages from the negligent driver:
- Economic damages compensate for financial losses and may include medical expenses (past and future), lost wages and loss of earning capacity, property damage (e.g., damage to your vehicle) and rehabilitation costs.
- Non-economic damages compensate for non-financial impacts, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life and loss of consortium (affecting your relationship with a spouse).
- Punitive damages are possible if the driver’s conduct is particularly reckless or egregious. These aim to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior in the future.
Damages can be a combination of all three types.
Others may also be liable
In addition to suing the driver, victims or their families may be able to hold other parties liable, depending on the circumstances. These parties could include a bar or restaurant under “dram shop” laws if they served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated driver, a social host if they knowingly served alcohol to an intoxicated person at a private event, the vehicle owner under negligent entrustment if they knew the driver was unfit to drive or the driver’s employer if the driver was working at the time of the accident under the doctrine of “respondeat superior.”
Let us help determine your best option
It’s essential to consult with a personal injury attorney knowledgeable about Connecticut’s laws to understand better what you might be entitled to based on the specifics of your case. Our firm can help you navigate the legal process and ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
