Car Accidents · Drunk Driving Accidents
Hit by a drunk driver. The criminal case is not your only fight.
Impaired drivers, and sometimes the bars that overserved them, owe you. We pursue every source of recovery.
How we handle drunk driving accidents cases
An impaired driver hit you. Maybe they left the scene smelling like alcohol. Maybe a blood test is pending. Maybe a bar kept serving them. Now you have injuries, a criminal case that is not your job to run, and a civil claim that still needs full investigation.
Drunk-driving injury cases are not "automatic wins" that settle themselves. Liability may be clearer on impairment, but insurers still fight causation, damages, and comparative fault. When Nevada law supports it, we also look past the driver to others who enabled the overservice.
We are D.R. Patti & Associates, a Nevada trial-focused firm, not a billboard settlement mill. Free consultation. Contingency fees. Call (702) 500-7070.
Related: car accidents hub · hit-and-run · catastrophic injury · wrongful death · why we fight · results · beyond the other driver's insurance
What should I do after a crash with a drunk driver? Get medical care, document the scene, cooperate with police as a victim/witness, and do not give a recorded civil statement to the driver's insurer before talking to a lawyer.
Call 911 and get checked out. Impairment crashes often involve higher speeds and worse injuries.; Photograph vehicles, debris, and any signs of impairment you safely observe. Leave enforcement to police.; Get the police report number and officer information.; Do not confront the impaired driver.; Call counsel early. Criminal charges help tell the story; they do not automatically collect your medical bills. Tim treats intake like family..
Call (702) 500-7070 if you are still at the scene or just left the ER.
How is a civil DUI crash case different from the criminal case? The state prosecutes the crime. Your civil claim seeks compensation for injuries and losses. Different standards, different timelines, different goals. A plea or conviction can help civil proof, but you should not wait silently while evidence and insurance layers go unexamined.
Who can be liable beyond the drunk driver? Sometimes employers (if the driver was working), vehicle owners, and, in some Nevada fact patterns, establishments that overserved a visibly intoxicated person. Every theory is fact-specific. We investigate; we do not promise a dram-shop case on every bar receipt.
Possible angles (examples):
Impaired driver and their auto liability policy; UM/UIM on your own policy if limits are thin or the driver is uninsured; Employer / commercial coverage if on-the-clock; Establishment liability where Nevada law and facts support overservice theories; Additional roadway or multi-vehicle defendants when the crash sequence includes them.
We do not stop at the other driver's minimum policy when the evidence points further. See why we fight.
Why injuries are often severe Impairment plus speed plus delayed reaction. TBI, fractures, spinal injury, and death show up more often than in low-speed fender-benders. Life-care cases need life-care investigation. See catastrophic injury and TBI.
What if the driver has almost no insurance? Common. Map every layer: your UIM, excess policies, additional defendants, and assets only when realistic. Do not accept "policy limits, that's all" as gospel on day one.
What if my loved one was killed by a drunk driver? You may have a Nevada wrongful-death claim for eligible family members, separate from the criminal case. See wrongful death. Call before signing insurer papers.
Compensation Medical costs past and future, lost income and earning capacity, pain and loss of enjoyment, punitive damages issues when facts and Nevada law support them (highly case-specific; we do not tease them as automatic), and wrongful-death damages when applicable. No honest flat average.
Deadlines Most Nevada personal injury and wrongful-death lawsuits generally must be filed within two years. Criminal cases do not pause your civil evidence needs. Confirm deadlines with Nevada counsel.
Fees Contingency. No attorney fee until we recover. Free consultation.
Talk to Tim. Get a straight plan that covers medicine, coverage, and investigation. Not a slogan about "crushing drunk drivers."
Call (702) 500-7070 · Free consultation · Contingency fees · Las Vegas, Summerlin, Henderson, and Reno offices
Car accidents · Wrongful death · Why we fight · Results · Catastrophic injury · Beyond other driver's insurance
Frequently asked questions
Does a DUI charge mean my civil case is automatic?
Impairment evidence helps, but civil cases still require proof of damages and can involve comparative fault fights. Charges help; they do not collect your bills by themselves.
Should I wait until the criminal case finishes before hiring a civil lawyer?
Usually no. Evidence and insurance issues need attention now. Criminal and civil tracks can run in parallel.
Can I sue the bar that served the drunk driver?
Sometimes, when Nevada law and facts support overservice / dram-shop type theories. Not every receipt creates a case. We investigate honestly.
What if the drunk driver was uninsured?
Your own UM/UIM and any additional defendants may be the recovery path. See uninsured motorist.
What if the drunk driver fled?
Hit-and-run plus impairment investigation. Preserve cameras and call counsel immediately. See hit-and-run.
Should I give a recorded statement to their insurer?
Generally no, not before talking to a lawyer.
What is the Nevada filing deadline?
Generally two years for many personal injury and wrongful-death actions in Nevada. A Nevada lawyer can confirm the deadline that fits your facts.
Can I get punitive damages in a drunk-driving injury case?
Possibly in some fact patterns under Nevada law. Highly case-specific. We do not promise punitive damages as a marketing hook.
What if I was also drinking?
Comparative negligence may become an issue. It does not automatically erase the impaired driver's liability. Tell us the truth so we can evaluate honestly.
Do you handle fatal DUI crashes?
Yes. See wrongful death.
How much is a drunk-driving injury case worth?
No honest flat average. Severity, coverage layers, and proof drive value.
Do you take these cases on contingency?
Yes. No attorney fee until we recover. Call (702) 500-7070.
Will my case go to trial?
Many settle; serious cases are prepared for trial. That changes carrier behavior.
Why not hire a billboard mill for a DUI crash?
Mills chase quick soft-tissue closes. Serious impairment crashes often need medical experts, coverage mapping, and trial posture. See why we fight.
What if the driver was in a company vehicle?
Employer and commercial coverage may apply. Tell us immediately so we preserve the right defendants.
Do you only take Las Vegas DUI crash cases?
We handle serious injury matters across Nevada. Ask us about your location and facts.