When someone chooses to drink and drive in Springfield, Missouri, they put innocent lives at risk.
We see the devastating consequences of these preventable crashes every day – severe injuries, mounting medical expenses, and families struggling to move forward after someone’s reckless decision changed everything.
Our experienced Springfield drunk driver accident lawyers help injured victims recover the compensation they need and deserve. We know you’re dealing with physical pain, financial stress, and anger that this happened because someone chose to drive after drinking.
Our job is to hold that driver accountable and fight for every dollar you’re entitled to.
We focus exclusively on Missouri motor vehicle accident cases, giving us deep experience with drunk driving claims and the unique challenges they present.
While the drunk driver may face criminal charges, that won’t pay your medical bills or make up for your lost wages. Our drunk driver accident attorneys in Springfield handle the civil side of your case, pursuing full compensation from the drunk driver and their insurance company so you can focus on healing.
How Our Drunk Driver Accident Lawyers Assist With Your Claim
Being hit by a drunk driver turns your life upside down in an instant. You’re dealing with injuries, medical bills, and lost wages because someone made the reckless choice to drive while intoxicated. We understand the frustration and anger you’re feeling right now.
Attorneys Paul Beck and John Beck take immediate action to protect your rights and build the strongest possible case. We handle every detail so you can focus on healing and getting your life back on track.
Investigation and Evidence Collection: We start by securing the police report, which contains crucial details about the driver’s blood alcohol content and field sobriety test results.
Our team also gathers additional evidence like surveillance footage from nearby businesses, bar receipts, and witness statements to paint a complete picture of what happened.
Medical Documentation: We work closely with your doctors to document the full extent of your injuries and create a clear record of your treatment needs.
This includes coordinating with medical experts who can explain how your injuries will affect your future health and earning capacity.
Insurance Company Protection: The drunk driver’s insurance company will try to minimize their payout or shift blame onto you.
At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we handle all communications with insurers to ensure you’re not taken advantage of during this vulnerable time.
Comprehensive Damage Calculation: We pursue compensation for all your losses, including current and future medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and the physical and emotional pain you’ve endured.
Why Choose Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers
At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we are the only law firm in Missouri that focuses exclusively on auto accident cases. This specialization gives us deep insight into the unique challenges of drunk driving claims and the tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying fair compensation.
Our firm has extensive experience representing accident victims across Missouri. We have secured substantial compensation for our clients through settlements and court verdicts. As a family-run practice, we treat every client with personal attention and genuine care.
We know how to prove negligence in drunk driving cases and hold reckless drivers accountable. Our award-winning legal team has the resources and determination to take on major insurance companies and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
What Should I Do After a Drunk Driving Crash in Springfield
The moments after being hit by a drunk driver are overwhelming and confusing. However, the actions you take immediately following the crash can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation later.
Call 911 and Seek Medical Attention
Your safety and health are the top priorities. Call 911 immediately to report the accident and request medical assistance. Even if your injuries seem minor, adrenaline can mask serious damage to your body.
Getting prompt medical care creates an official record linking your injuries to the crash. This documentation becomes crucial evidence when pursuing compensation from the drunk driver’s insurance company.
Document the Scene and Driver’s Behavior
If you’re able to do so safely, take photos of the vehicles, accident scene, and any visible injuries. Pay close attention to the other driver’s behavior and note any signs of intoxication you observe.
- Alcohol odor: The smell of alcohol on the driver’s breath or coming from their vehicle
- Physical signs: Bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, or unsteady movement
- Open containers: Beer bottles, liquor bottles, or other alcohol containers in the vehicle
- Witness information: Contact details for anyone who saw the accident occur
Contact Our Firm Before Speaking to Insurance Companies
Insurance adjusters often contact accident victims within hours of a crash, hoping to get a recorded statement or quick settlement. These early conversations can be used against you later to minimize your claim.
We recommend contacting our Springfield car accident lawyers before giving any statement to an insurance company. We’ll handle all communications to protect your rights and ensure your claim is valued appropriately.
Who Pays After a Drunk Driving Accident in Missouri
Multiple sources of compensation may be available after a drunk driving accident. Our goal is to identify every possible avenue for recovery to ensure you receive full compensation for your losses.
The drunk driver’s auto insurance policy is typically the primary source of compensation. Missouri requires all drivers to carry liability insurance, though many carry only the minimum required amounts. If the drunk driver’s insurance isn’t sufficient to cover your damages, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may apply.
Bars, restaurants, or social hosts who overserved the drunk driver may also be held liable under Missouri’s dram shop law. This requires proving the establishment served alcohol to someone who was visibly intoxicated.
Punitive damages may be awarded in addition to your regular compensation. These damages are designed to punish the drunk driver for their reckless behavior and deter future drunk driving incidents.
Missouri’s Drunk Driving Laws Strengthen Your Claim
Missouri law strongly favors victims of drunk driving accidents through the legal doctrine of negligence per se. This means that when someone violates a safety law and causes harm, they are automatically considered negligent.
Since driving while intoxicated is illegal in Missouri, proving the driver was drunk essentially proves they were negligent, similar to how distracted driving violations establish liability. You don’t need to show they were driving carelessly or made a specific mistake. The act of driving while intoxicated is negligence by itself.
This legal principle simplifies your case and puts the focus on proving your damages rather than arguing about who was at fault. The drunk driver’s insurance company cannot claim their client was driving safely if they were legally intoxicated.
Missouri enforces strict penalties for drunk driving, including license suspension, fines, and potential jail time. These criminal consequences are separate from your civil claim for compensation, but they demonstrate how seriously the state takes drunk driving offenses.
Can Bars Be Held Liable for Overserving in Missouri
Missouri’s dram shop law allows accident victims to hold bars, restaurants, and other alcohol-serving establishments liable when they contribute to drunk driving accidents. However, these cases require meeting specific legal requirements.
The establishment must have served alcohol to someone who was “visibly intoxicated” at the time of service. Visible intoxication means showing obvious signs of impairment that a reasonable person would notice.
Examples of visible intoxication include slurred speech, stumbling or loss of balance, bloodshot eyes, strong alcohol odor, or significantly uncoordinated physical actions. Simply being drunk is not enough – the intoxication must have been apparent to the server or bartender.
Proving a dram shop case requires strong evidence, such as surveillance video from the bar, witness testimony from other patrons, or receipts showing excessive alcohol purchases. Our legal team knows how to investigate these claims and gather the necessary proof.
Missouri law caps dram shop damages, but these claims can still provide significant additional compensation beyond what’s available from the drunk driver’s insurance policy.
Compensation Available in Springfield Drunk Driving Cases
Drunk driving accidents often result in severe injuries and significant financial losses. We fight to recover full compensation for every way the accident has impacted your life.
Economic Damages | Non-Economic Damages |
Emergency medical treatment | Physical pain and suffering |
Hospital stays and surgery | Emotional distress and trauma |
Ongoing medical care | Loss of enjoyment of life |
Physical therapy and rehabilitation | Permanent disability effects |
Lost wages and income | Scarring and disfigurement |
Reduced earning capacity | Mental anguish |
Vehicle repair or replacement | Loss of consortium for spouses |
Punitive damages may also be available in drunk driving cases. These are awarded to punish the defendant for their reckless disregard for public safety and to deter similar conduct in the future.
The value of your claim depends on factors like the severity of your injuries, the impact on your ability to work, and the strength of the evidence against the drunk driver. Our experienced attorneys know how to calculate and pursue maximum compensation.
How Missouri’s Comparative Fault Rules Apply to DUI Crashes
Missouri follows a pure comparative fault system, which means your compensation can be reduced if you’re found partially responsible for the accident. However, drunk driving cases are different from typical car accidents.
When someone chooses to drive while intoxicated, their decision is so reckless and dangerous that they’re almost always found to be entirely or overwhelmingly at fault. Insurance companies may try to argue you were speeding or failed to yield, but these minor infractions pale in comparison to drunk driving.
Even if you’re found partially at fault, you can still recover compensation. For example, if you were 10% responsible and the drunk driver was 90% responsible, you would receive 90% of your total damages.
Our legal team knows how to counter insurance company attempts to shift blame onto innocent victims. We focus on the drunk driver’s choice to get behind the wheel while impaired as the primary cause of the accident.
Time Limits for Filing Your Springfield Drunk Driving Claim
Missouri gives injury victims five years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. While this seems like plenty of time, it’s crucial to act quickly to preserve evidence and protect your rights.
Important evidence can disappear rapidly after an accident. Surveillance video from businesses may be erased, witness memories fade, and physical evidence from the scene can be lost. The sooner you contact our firm, the better we can preserve this crucial information.
If the drunk driving accident resulted in a fatality, the deadline is shorter. Wrongful death claims are subject to statutory filing deadlines, which may run from the date of death rather than the date of the accident.
Starting your case early also allows us to begin negotiations with insurance companies while the details are fresh and the impact on your life is clear. This often leads to better settlement outcomes.
How Criminal DWI Cases Help Your Civil Claim
When someone causes an accident while drunk, they face both criminal charges from the state and a civil lawsuit from you. These are separate legal processes with different purposes and outcomes.
The criminal case focuses on punishing the drunk driver through fines, jail time, and license suspension. Your civil case seeks financial compensation for your injuries and losses. You don’t need to wait for the criminal case to conclude before pursuing your civil claim.
Evidence from the criminal case can significantly strengthen your civil lawsuit. Police reports, breathalyzer results, field sobriety test videos, and officer testimony all help prove the driver was intoxicated and at fault.
If the drunk driver pleads guilty or is convicted, this admission or finding of guilt becomes powerful evidence in your civil case. However, even if criminal charges are dropped or the driver is acquitted, you can still win your civil claim because the burden of proof is lower.
Uninsured Drunk Drivers and Hit-and-Run DUI Crashes
Unfortunately, many drunk drivers flee the scene of accidents or don’t carry adequate insurance coverage. These situations create additional challenges but don’t eliminate your options for recovery.
If the drunk driver leaves the scene, we work with law enforcement to help identify and locate them. We also investigate whether your uninsured motorist coverage applies to hit-and-run accidents, which it often does under Missouri law.
When drunk drivers have no insurance or insufficient coverage, your underinsured motorist (UIM) policy becomes crucial. This coverage essentially steps into the shoes of the at-fault driver’s insurance company and pays your claim.
We also explore other potential sources of compensation, such as dram shop claims against bars that may have overserved the driver before they got behind the wheel.
Fatal Drunk Driving Accidents in Springfield
Losing a loved one to a drunk driver is an unimaginable tragedy that no family should endure. In these devastating situations, Missouri law allows certain family members to file wrongful death claims seeking justice and financial support.
Eligible family members typically include spouses, children, parents, and siblings of the deceased. These claims can recover compensation for funeral expenses, lost future income, and the loss of companionship, guidance, and support the deceased would have provided.
Our firm handles wrongful death cases with the sensitivity and compassion these situations require. We understand that no amount of money can bring back your loved one, but holding the drunk driver accountable can provide some measure of justice and financial stability for your family’s future.
We work closely with families during this difficult time, handling all legal aspects of the case while you focus on grieving and healing.
Contact Our Springfield Drunk Driving Accident Law Firm
You shouldn’t have to bear the financial and emotional burden of an accident caused by someone else’s reckless decision to drive drunk. At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we have the experience and dedication needed to hold negligent drivers accountable.
Our exclusive focus on Missouri auto accident law means we understand the specific challenges of drunk driving cases and know how to maximize your compensation. We handle every aspect of your case, from investigating the accident to negotiating with insurance companies to representing you in court if necessary.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing upfront and we only collect a fee if we successfully recover compensation for you. This arrangement allows you to get quality legal representation without worrying about legal bills while you’re trying to recover from your injuries.
Springfield Drunk Driving Accident FAQ
Does a DWI Conviction Guarantee I’ll Win My Civil Case Against the Drunk Driver?
A DWI conviction provides strong evidence of negligence but doesn’t automatically guarantee victory in your civil case. You still must prove the extent of your damages and show that the drunk driving directly caused your injuries, though the conviction makes establishing fault much easier.
How Much Do Springfield Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Charge for Their Services?
We represent drunk driving accident victims on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront and we only collect a fee if we successfully recover compensation for you. This arrangement ensures you can get quality legal representation without financial stress during your recovery.
Can I Recover Punitive Damages in Missouri Drunk Driving Accident Cases?
Yes, Missouri law allows courts to award punitive damages in drunk driving cases to punish the defendant’s reckless behavior and deter future drunk driving. These damages are awarded in addition to compensation for your actual losses like medical bills and lost wages.
What Happens if the Drunk Driver Who Hit Me Only Has Minimum Insurance Coverage?
If the drunk driver’s insurance isn’t sufficient to cover your damages, we can help you file a claim under your own underinsured motorist coverage. We also investigate whether other parties like bars or restaurants can be held liable under Missouri’s dram shop law.
Should I Give a Statement to the Drunk Driver’s Insurance Company After the Accident?
No, you should never give a recorded statement or sign documents from the other driver’s insurance company without consulting an attorney first. These companies often use early statements to minimize claims, and we handle all insurance communications to protect your interests.
How Long Do Springfield Drunk Driving Accident Cases Typically Take to Resolve?
Many drunk driving accident cases settle before trial, although those involving severe injuries or disputed liability can take more time to resolve.
