Can a passenger sue a drunk driver in Louisville?

Louisville, KY – Drunk drivers cause harm in Kentucky and other states every single day. For this reason, people in all kinds of situations can be affected by a drunk driver, even when they least expect it. One potential problem that people may not foresee is when a person who is a passenger in the vehicle of a drunk driver gets hurt when their driver causes a crash. 

Attorneys near me can provide additional advice during a consultation to people who have been harmed by drunk drivers. 

Injuries to the people in the car with the drunk driver

Drunk drivers are not only a danger to other vehicles on the road, but any people within their own vehicle as well. It is actually statistically more common for people in the car driven by a drunk driver to be injured or killed than those in the vehicles that are hit. For this reason, people who were a passenger in a car driven by a drunk driver may need to bring a lawsuit to help pay for their injuries and other losses, and they can legally do so if the need arises. 

Legal action by passengers

As a general rule of personal injury law, those who are hurt can identify any person or business that is responsible for their injuries and attempt to bring a civil lawsuit for negligence. This means that passengers are able to potentially sue the person driving the car that caused their accident and injuries, even if it was someone such as a friend or family member. However, there are practical concerns about the problems that may be caused by this kind of legal action and the defendant’s ability to pay a settlement or judgment, so the victim should get advice from Louisville DUI accident lawyers before committing to any course of action. 

Potential compensation available

Civil lawsuits against drunk drivers are distinct from criminal cases. Only the criminal case can result in jail time and other punishments such as a driver’s license suspension. However, the civil case is often necessary to provide the victim with money for things like lost income and medical expenses, and this type of lawsuit can be brought whether or not the driver is ever charged or convicted in criminal court. Civil negligence cases also allow other types of compensation, such as payment for the victim’s pain and suffering, along with punitive damages meant to punish the driver for reckless behavior. 

Having a discussion about these issues with a lawyer

USAttorneys.com is a site that lists drunk driving accident lawyers and other legal professionals throughout the country. Anyone who needs advice from Louisville accident lawyers can use the site to find a local attorney.