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Melville, NY Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

When drivers decide to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol, they put the lives of other vehicle occupants, cyclists and pedestrians on the line. It is an irresponsible choice that can have serious consequences. Impaired faculties can cause collisions that result in injuries and fatalities.

If you’ve been a victim in a drunk driving accident and sustained life-disrupting and costly injuries, a Melville, NY, drunk driving accident lawyer can help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Cellino Law attorneys have the experience you need to fight for a fair settlement.

Drunk Driving by the Numbers

Nationwide, 28% of all traffic accident fatalities involved intoxicated drivers in 2019. An estimated 9,598 drivers in crashes were under the influence at the time of the accident. In New York that year, 262 drivers had BAC levels of at least 0.08, and 170 motorists had BAC levels of 0.15 or higher.

Annually, one person dies in a drunk-driving accident in New York every 30 minutes on average, and every two minutes, someone is injured in an impaired-driving accident. Within the first six months of 2022, alcohol was involved in 164 of the 9,135 collisions in New York City.

A Note on New York’s Impaired Driving Law

Driving under the influence is a crime in New York. The state has three BAC limit levels that determine the degree of impairment. People with a 0.05-0.07 BAC are considered alcohol-impaired. Those who have a BAC of 0.08 and above are intoxicated. If drivers have a 0.18 BAC or higher, they can be arrested for aggravated intoxicated driving.

The first offense is usually considered a misdemeanor unless the driver injures or kills another person. In this case, the drunk driver can be charged with and convicted of vehicular assault, manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide. If the drunk driver caused the car crash that resulted in your injuries, you might be able to pursue a civil lawsuit to recover damages.

Innocent Until Proven Negligent

If law enforcement arrested a driver involved in the crash for drunk driving, you have a substantial piece of evidence of fault. However, you still have work to prove the driver was liable for your injuries. In a civil suit for a personal injury case, the claimant is responsible for establishing that the other driver’s negligent behavior caused the injuries. You must demonstrate four factors:

  • Duty of care: Proving that the other driver owed you a duty of care isn’t onerous. Every driver is responsible for the safety of others who share the road.
  • Breach of duty: Establishing a breach of duty requires evidence supporting the other driver’s failure to fulfill a motorist’s responsibilities. Driving while intoxicated is an important indicator, but you may need more corroborating evidence.
  • Causation: Demonstrating that the other driver’s intoxication caused or contributed to the accident also requires sufficient evidence.
  • Harm: Verifying that the accident caused your injuries and that your injuries were severe enough to warrant compensation requires proof from physician’s reports, medical and rehabilitation bills and professional analyses.

A Cellino Law drunk driving lawyer has the knowledge and experience to help you prove fault.

Reasons To Work With an Attorney

Retaining an attorney may improve the outcomes of your case. Lawyers with experience handling drunk driving cases have an in-depth knowledge of the laws and legal proceedings. They also have experience constructing a case that reveals the full extent of your losses and establishes liability. Your lawyer works for and supports you through every stage of the process.

Evaluating Your Case

The decision to file a lawsuit is significant. Before you file, an attorney evaluates the details of your case, determining its merits. Your lawyer reviews its strengths and challenges, making you aware of potential obstacles. After assessing your case, your attorney informs you of the options open to you and provides legal advice on how to proceed.

Gathering the Evidence

To win a case, you need evidence supporting all four negligence elements. Melville, N.Y., drunk driving accident lawyers know what kind of evidence to collect and have the resources to do so. They can often get their hands on documents and other proof that victims have trouble accessing. They may seek any of the following:

  • Police reports
  • Accident investigation reports
  • Doctor’s assessments
  • Statements from witnesses and relevant professionals
  • Photos and videos, including any street, shop or home cameras that may have captured footage of the accident

Your attorney can also help you determine what evidence you need to pull together for expenses you’ve already accrued.

Calculating the Damages

Damages in a personal injury lawsuit often include more than current medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses and lost wages. You can pursue compensation for any of the following additional damages:

  • Future medical and rehabilitation costs
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Associated expenses such as transportation to and from appointments
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Emotional trauma

Your lawyer knows how to calculate these varied damages to come up with a compensation amount.

Filing the Paperwork

Attorneys are adept at accurately completing the necessary paperwork. The petition to file involves documenting your complaint against the defendant, the legal basis for your claim and outlines the facts of the case. An incomplete or insufficient petition causes delays and may even result in a denial of your case. A personal injury attorney has the knowledge needed to ensure a sufficient and complete petition.

Communicating With the Defense

Communicating with the other side can be detrimental to your case if you don’t know the tactics they often use. Defense representatives frequently attempt to get claimants to make statements that they can use against them. If they can place some blame on the victim, they lower their client’s liability.

When you work with Cellino Law attorneys, they take care of the communications with the other side. They have the experience needed to protect your rights and prevent coercive tactics.

Handling the Negotiations

Personal injury cases seldom make it to the courtroom. Typically, the defense is more than happy to negotiate a satisfactory settlement, especially if court proceedings are likely to turn out worse for the client. You also benefit from negotiations that result in fair compensation, as your case is resolved much faster than going to trial.

Your Melville, N.Y., drunk driving accident lawyer handles the negotiations for you. Your accident attorney won’t accept a settlement unless you agree the terms are fair. Your attorney provides legal advice throughout the process.

Representing You in Court

Though rare, personal injury claims sometimes go before a judge and jury. When all parties can’t agree to the terms of a settlement, the only option is to go through with court proceedings. Cellino Law attorneys are prepared to go the distance when necessary to obtain just compensation. They have a proven track record in court cases and won’t hesitate to fight for you.

Melville, NY, Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers You Can Trust

The personal injury attorneys at Cellino Law understand how difficult it is to pursue just compensation while recovering from your injuries. We alleviate your burdens, supporting you throughout the legal process. We also don’t collect any fees until we win your case. You deserve personal attention from attorneys with experience handling drunk driving cases. We’re here for you every step of the way. Get in touch for a free case evaluation.

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    Testimonials

    • We'd like to thank you for all the assistance and time you spent on our case. Your professionalism and honesty will always be appreciated. The staff was always courteous and we were always impressed with your accountability. Your passion and dedication will never be forgotten, nor will you.

      Sarah

    • Cellino Law and more specifically my attorney, Gregory V. Pajak, Managing Attorney, and as a whole the Cellino Law Firm and its organization. This is by far one of the most professional law firms and attorney I have ever engaged with and retained in my 35 years. The level of professionalism goes beyond words, the care and constant engagement with me as the client was touching. I was never ever just treated as simply a CASE with potentially a significant dollar number attached to my file. I was engaged regularly, Tracey (Ass’t) and Greg always made sure to remain constant, as well as consistent in overseeing that my case was handled properly and that it did matter in many ways - ensuring that the end result(s) would be fair and reasonable to my case/injury. The regular follow-up calls were very satisfying, knowing that you’re involved in your case matters significantly AND always. One of my main items to recognize Cellino Law and Gregory is that whenever I called, I was able to get through to speak directly to my Lawyer and he would answer any if not all of my questions in a very professional and genuinely caring manner. I always felt cared for and protected legally and more importantly, I was made feel as a human being that was being cared for and always keeping me abreast of all matters connected to the case. There was never a point I felt let down, on the contrary -the level of service was “STELLAR”. Greg is the consummate professional, a ‘role model’, if you will, for what other attorneys should strive to become when dealing with their clients.

      Anthony

    • I can only say great things about my attorney Allan Silverstein. He is professional, he calls back right away, he keeps me informed, and makes me feel comfortable as this entire ordeal is stressful. I have total confidence in his ability to handle whatever comes his way. He is no nonsense and very good at his job. Thank you Allan... he is a true asset to the team!

      Mrs Steward

    • Choosing the right attorney to represent you after an accident can make all the difference. This is no cliche. I recently experienced these words to live by first hand. After a tractor trailer rear ended me at high speed in 2017 I retained Allan Silverstein to handle my case. I quickly realized that bringing a lawsuit rapidly snowballs into a mountain of details that can make or break your results. Documents, case histories, doctor visits, bills, and lots of phone calls all need to be accurately kept track of if a successful outcome it to be attained. To complicate matters I reside in New York and the incident took place in New Jersey. Luckily, Allan was licensed in multiple states. I was fortunate to find Allan to handle this matter from the New York area. Armed with an accurate account of the facts Allan went to work on the difficult job of negotiating with the defending insurance company as well as my no fault carrier in order to obtain the best possible outcome for my set of circumstances. In a lawsuit communication is key and and events can be of a timely nature. Allan never failed to return my calls - usually the same day! He fought skillfully and respectfully to get me the best possible settlement. He is easy to deal with and a likeable down to earth guy. He always listened with compassion and respect to my issues. He guided me with objective understanding as well as a realistic analysis of the merits of my case. When we finally settled Allan got me a fair agreement beyond my expectations and negotiated with my doctors to make sure all my bills were paid. It was a great experience having Allan represent me. Quality work in any aspect of life is hard to find. Quality is what I got with Allan Silverstein. I highly recommend him if you find yourself in need of a personal injury attorney.

      Theodore

    • I am so grateful for your expertise, patience, and perseverance which resulted with such a successful settlement regarding my car accident. I also want to let you know how impressed I was with you and your firm and I won't hesitate to recommend you to anyone who needs assistance from an accident. I truly appreciated your care and professionalism. Thank you again for your kindness and support

      Lisa

    • I am writing this letter to say how much I appreciate your services pertaining to my case. Your injury attorney took a hands-on approach and left me fully informed at all times as to where my case was going as well as how much ground we had to cover; leaving the final decisions in my hands but making sure that I knew all of the risks involved in the choices. I have dealt with a few law firms in my life on various different cases and this is the first time that I never had to call and/or track down my lawyer… because of this, I have and will continue to recommend Cellino Law to my friends and associates.

      Denise