Los Angeles Drunk Driving Injury Lawyer

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Joshua W. Glotzer, Esq

Managing Partner

Los Angeles Drunk Driving Injury Lawyers

Drunk driving accidents are all too common in Los Angeles.

Every year, more than 10,000 people are killed in alcohol-related crashes. When a drunk driver causes an accident, they’re likely to face criminal charges for their negligent decision to get behind the wheel.

However, criminal charges aren’t the only consequences of driving drunk. If you’ve been injured because of a drunk driver, you also have the right to demand monetary compensation from them.

Drunk driving injury cases can be complicated, especially if the at-fault driver is prosecuted. It can be critical to work with an injury lawyer you trust.

Do not hesitate to contact Glotzer & Leib, LLP for help if you’ve been injured in a Los Angeles drunk driving car accident. Our experienced attorneys have more than 14 years of experience handling drunk driving injury cases.

We’ve successfully recovered millions in settlements and awards for our injured clients. We understand how traumatic a drunk driving accident can be and are here to help you fight for what you deserve.

Your first consultation is free, so call our law firm at (747) 241-8288 or reach us online today for help.

Los Angeles Drunk Driving Accident Statistics

Los Angeles roads are dangerous enough when everyone is sober. Unfortunately, many people make the negligent decision to get behind the wheel after having a few drinks. This seemingly simple decision often has devastating consequences.

Studies show that one person is killed in a drunk driving accident in the United States every 50 minutes

In recent years, drunk driving accidents resulting in injury or death have increased in Los Angeles.

Between 2012 and 2016, drunk driving collisions rose by more than 50 percent.

  • 2012: 2,539 drunk driving accidents
  • 2013: 2,381 drunk driving accidents
  • 2014: 3,409 drunk driving accidents
  • 2015: 3,300 drunk driving accidents
  • 2016: 3,546 drunk driving accidents

In a city like Los Angeles, public transportation and alternatives like Uber and Lyft are readily available. Unfortunately, many young people are still are overestimating their ability to drive safely. Studies show that young people, particularly between the ages of 21 and 34, are involved in more DUI accidents than anyone else.

When Can I File a Car Accident Lawsuit After a Drunk Driving Crash?

California limits the amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit after an accident.

This time limit – known as a statute of limitations – is generally two years. So, you have to file your claim no later than two years after the date of the LA drunk driving accident that caused your injuries.

Tolling the California Car Accident Statute of Limitations

There are exceptions to this general rule of thumb. You might be able to toll – or pause – the statute of limitations if certain extenuating circumstances apply.

These might include:

  • You were under the age of 18 at the time of the accident
  • The drunk driver is incarcerated, can’t be found, or has left the state of California, or
  • There was a reasonable delay in discovering your injuries.

You will lose the right to obtain compensation from the drunk driver if you wait too long to file your injury claim.

Your Civil Injury Cause Might Be Paused

It’s also important to understand that your civil personal injury case might be paused if the drunk driver is charged with a crime.

The driver’s criminal defense attorney might ask a judge to pause any civil proceedings that are related to the drunk driving accident until the criminal case is resolved. This gives the drunk driver the opportunity to focus on the criminal consequences of the accident first.

If a petition to stay your drunk driving accident case is granted, you’ll have to wait until the driver’s criminal case is over for your case to begin. This could increase the amount of time you have to wait to get the money you deserve. 

However, this will give you time to identify the full extent of your injuries and calculate your damages.

Our drunk driving accident attorneys in Los Angeles will make sure that you are compensated for all of your injuries and costs, including those incurred while your case is temporarily put on hold.

What Do I Have to Prove After I’m Injured in a Los Angeles Drunk Driving Auto Accident?

When you’re injured because of a drunk driver – whether you’re in another car, riding a bike or motorcycle, or walking – you have the right to ask for compensation.

You can do this by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the driver and anyone who may have contributed to the collision.

When you file a personal injury lawsuit, you’ll have to prove that the drunk driver’s negligence was a substantial factor in causing your injury.

Negligence Per Se

Negligence means that the driver owed you a duty of care, breached it, and caused you to suffer an injury. When someone breaks the law and causes an accident, you can rely on the legal doctrine of negligence per se. Negligence per se means that a person is automatically considered to be negligent because they broke a law that’s in place to protect the public. 

Drunk driving is illegal in California. When a driver is arrested for and convicted of drunk driving, you can use this to automatically create a presumption of negligence in your case. All you have to do is prove that this negligence caused your injury.

Damages Available to LA Drunk Driving Accident Victims

Drunk drivers lack the ability to drive safely. As a result, accidents involving drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol tend to be quite violent. It’s not uncommon for drunk driving accident victims to sustain severe and debilitating injuries. Fortunately, you have the right to demand compensation for all of your physical, emotional, and financial suffering.

You might be able to recover damages for:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Disability
  • Reduced earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering 
  • Emotional trauma
  • Disfigurement
  • Scarring
  • Loss of enjoyment of life, and more.

Punitive damages may also be available in certain cases.

If you’ve lost someone you love because of a drunk driver, you may be entitled to money to compensate for funeral expenses, the loss of that person’s love and guidance, as well as financial assistance they would have provided.

Our Los Angeles drunk driving injury lawyers can help you as you navigate this extremely difficult time in your life. We’ll fight to make sure that you recover every dollar you and your family deserve.

Call us for help with your personal injury or wrongful death drunk driving accident lawsuit today.

Contact a Los Angeles Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer for Help

Someone else decided to drive drunk.

Now your life has been changed forever. You don’t have to struggle with the consequences on your own. You have the right to demand compensation from the drunk driver. Glotzer & Leib, LLP can help you get the maximum compensation available. We’ll help you get every last penny you deserve.

Call our experienced Los Angeles drunk driving accident attorneys to schedule a free consultation.

We’ll review your case, explain your rights, and address any questions you have.

There’s a limited amount of time to act, so do not hesitate to reach out to us for help today.

Call (747) 241-8288 or send us an online message for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

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      “Mr. Glotzer represented me after I was involved in a car accident. I was badly injured,but the insurance company refused to offer me a reasonable settlement. I decided to find an attorney and decided to hire Josh.

      His law firm did a great job on my case. They were very responsive to all my questions and obtained a great resolution for me. I received way more money than was originally offered. I would recommend their firm to friends and family.”

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      “Mr. Josh Glotzer is a great attorney. Over the last 15 years he has helped me on a number of cases with professionalism, and more importantly a positive outcome in my favor. I have referred him to a number of friends and colleagues, all of which have been equally as happy with his legal representation. I trust him and confident in legal ability. I highly recommend his law firm.”

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      “Don’t try to deal with insurance companies on your own. They strung me along for almost two years before I gave the case to Glotzer & Leib. Josh and his team quickly obtained a settlement that netted me many times what the insurance company was offering. Thank You!”

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      “My wife was in a car accident last year and Josh did an amazing job representing her. It’s very refreshing to see someone in his profession that actually cares and puts his clients first. He’s the best in the business and I feel so fortunate that I was referred to him. Keep up the great work and thanks for everything you did for my family!”

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      “I was in a rear end car accident last year and hired Mr. Glotzer’s office. It wasn’t a big case but their office helped me with my property damage claim and did a good job resolving the injury portion of the case as well.”

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    Our Location

    Los Angeles Office

    Glotzer & Leib, LLP
    714 West Olympic Blvd., Suite 632
    Los Angeles, California 90015 (213) 309-3050

    Our Los Angeles office is conveniently located at the junction of the 110 and 10 freeways and in the heart of the downtown entertainment district.