We can gather and review every piece of evidence to determine precisely how the crash happened and who was at fault.

Depending on the circumstances of the accident, multiple parties could be responsible for your injuries. If that is the case, we can file multiple claims to recover as much money as possible.

You need to document all the physical, financial, and emotional losses you have suffered. Using your medical records, doctor’s reports and other evidence, we can compile a complete account of your injuries and if and how the injuries will impact your enjoyment of life going forward.

Once we have finished investigating the accident, we will send a demand letter to each liable party and their insurance company, alerting them that we are seeking compensation on your behalf.

Most drunk driving accident cases end in a settlement with the liable party’s insurance company. We know the techniques insurance companies use to deny accident victims the total compensation they deserve, and we will fight for a fair settlement.

If settlement negotiations fail, we may need to bring your case to trial in civil court to continue pursuing compensation. Our attorneys are highly skilled litigators and can develop a robust and compelling strategy to use at trial.

At Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman, we do not charge you any fees upfront to start work on your personal injury case. We will review your case for free, with no obligation to you. If we believe you have a claim for compensation, we will do all the legal legwork with no out-of-pocket cost to you. When we recover compensation for you, our fee then comes as a percentage of that. If we don’t win, you don’t pay us. It’s that simple.

• The person who was served was already visibly intoxicated; or,
• The establishment knew or should have known that the person who was served was under the age of 21.

• The host knew or should have known that the guest was visibly intoxicated.
• The host continued to recklessly serve that person despite the increased risk of a drunk driving accident.
• The overserved guest then left the host’s house and caused the accident that injured you.

Drunk driving is a crime, and if prosecutors have sufficient evidence to charge a drunk driver after an accident, they usually will. However, it is important to remember that a personal injury lawsuit is a civil matter distinct from any criminal charges a drunk driver may – or may not – face.

A criminal drunk driving case is meant to determine if someone broke the law by driving drunk and, if so, to punish them for a wrong committed against society. To secure a conviction, the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the drunk driver broke the law. That can be a high standard to meet, which unfortunately means some drunk drivers are either never charged or are acquitted.

On the other hand, a personal injury case takes place in civil court and is specifically about compensating a victim for the wrong they suffered because of the drunk driver’s actions. A much lower standard of proof is required to find a defendant liable in civil court. You must show that it is more likely than not that the driver was negligent and, therefore, responsible for compensating you.

In other words, a civil suit allows you to hold someone financially liable for your injuries and losses independent of any criminal charges against them.