Los Angeles DUI Accident Lawyers

How Providence Law Handles DUI Accident Cases

When you hire Providence Law after a DUI accident, we spring into action to support you and build a powerful case. Here’s how we help:

• Immediate Investigation: Even though the drunk driver’s fault may seem obvious, we still conduct a thorough investigation to gather all evidence. This includes obtaining the police report from the accident (which in a DUI situation often contains valuable details like officers noting the driver’s slurred speech, odor of alcohol, failed field sobriety tests, etc.). We’ll also gather any criminal case information, such as the DUI charges, any blood alcohol content (BAC) results (e.g., if the driver was at 0.15% BAC, nearly double the legal limit, that’s compelling evidence of extreme impairment), and status of the criminal proceedings. If there were witnesses, we interview them promptly, perhaps other drivers saw the car swerving, or pedestrians saw the driver stumbling before getting in the car. We also preserve physical evidence: photos of the crash scene, vehicle damage, skid marks, traffic camera or surveillance footage if available. Sometimes DUI crashes are hit-and-runs; if so, we assist law enforcement’s investigation and explore your uninsured motorist coverage (more on that later). Essentially, we treat it like any major accident investigation, with the added angle of proving impairment. If needed, we can hire accident reconstruction experts to show how the collision occurred, though often in DUI cases the fact of impairment plus obvious traffic violations (running a red light, crossing center line) makes liability clear. We leave nothing to chance; a solid evidence package makes the insurance adjuster’s job defending the drunk driver very difficult (as it should be).
• Documenting Your Injuries and Losses: DUI accidents frequently result in severe injuries, given that impaired drivers may not brake or may be speeding. Our team will make sure you are getting the medical care you need and that every aspect of your injuries is documented. We collect all medical records and bills, from ambulance transport to ER treatment, surgeries, hospital stays, follow-up appointments, physical therapy, and any specialist care. Because DUI crashes can be high-force, you might have long-term or permanent injuries; we will work with your doctors to understand your prognosis and future medical needs. If you face a long recovery or a permanent disability, we will also coordinate with life care planners or other experts to calculate future care costs. We’ll track your lost wages and any other economic impacts (for example, if you’re unable to return to your job or have to take a lower-paying role, we quantify that lost earning capacity). These tangible losses are just part of the picture , we also encourage you to share with us how this injury has affected your daily life and your family, so we can convey the full extent of pain and suffering. Often DUI victims suffer significant emotional trauma; after all, being struck by a drunk driver can be a terrifying experience and often results in PTSD-like symptoms (flashbacks, anxiety about driving, etc.). If needed, we have experts like psychologists who can evaluate and attest to these mental health impacts. Our goal is to compile a comprehensive dossier of all your damages, physical, financial, and emotional, to ensure you are fully compensated.
• Handling Insurance and Uninsured Issues: One challenge we sometimes encounter is that drunk drivers may have minimal insurance or, in worse cases, no insurance at all (despite it being legally required). Providence Law is adept at navigating these situations. If the driver had insurance, we will aggressively pursue a claim against their liability policy. Given the egregious nature of DUI, insurance companies often prefer to settle these claims rather than risk a jury outrage (which can lead to high verdicts). If the driver’s insurance limits are low and your damages exceed them, we may pursue the driver’s personal assets (though many DUI drivers may not have substantial assets, we evaluate this on a case-by-case basis). Importantly, we also look to your own insurance for help: if you carry Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your auto policy, this can be a lifesaver. UM coverage steps in if the at-fault driver was uninsured or fled and wasn’t caught; UIM coverage kicks in if the driver had some insurance but not enough to cover your losses. For example, if they have a $15k policy (California minimum) but you have $100k in damages and you have $100k UIM, we could collect $15k from them and then up to $85k from your UIM. We will guide you through making a UM/UIM claim if needed, and importantly, we’ll handle it to make sure your own insurance treats you fairly (yes, you can end up fighting your own insurer for a proper payout, but we’ll take on that fight so you don’t have to). Additionally, if there is a third party potentially liable, we will pursue them. For instance, California’s dram shop laws are very limited (bars generally aren’t liable for serving an adult who then drives, except in cases of obviously serving a visibly intoxicated minor). These cases are tough but not impossible if facts align (e.g., a bar served a 19-year-old who was already drunk, then the bar could be on the hook). We investigate whether any such angle exists, though in most DUI injury cases, the primary source is the driver’s insurance and your UIM. In summary, we identify every possible avenue of recovery to make sure you get fully compensated, even if the drunk driver’s own coverage is lacking.
• Maximizing Punitive Damages Leverage: One key difference in DUI accident cases is the potential for punitive damages under California law. Punitive damages, unlike compensatory damages, are intended to punish and deter particularly bad conduct. Driving drunk, especially with a high BAC or other aggravating factors, can be considered malice or a conscious disregard for safety, which justifies punitive damages. While many personal injury cases don’t involve punitive claims, we almost always seek punitive damages in DUI injury lawsuits. This is a big stick in negotiations. Insurance policies typically do not cover punitive damages (an insurer won’t pay fines/punishment on behalf of an insured), so a drunk driver who is at risk of punitive damages faces personal financial exposure. This often motivates their insurance company to settle the compensatory side generously (to avoid a trial where a jury might award both compensatory and punitive damages against their insured). We will explicitly include a punitive damages count in any lawsuit and make it clear we intend to expose the driver’s conduct – e.g., “Defendant Driver chose to drink to a .20 BAC and speed through a red light, endangering everyone”, and ask a jury to send a message. Often, defense counsel (hired by insurance) will push for settlement once they see we have a strong punitive case, because a trial could result in their client owing punitive damages out-of-pocket, which also drives up the compensatory award out of sympathy. We’ve handled cases where just the threat of a punitive phase of trial helped unlock the policy limits of insurance without much fight. Our attorneys know how to wield this tool effectively. Of course, if we do go to trial, we are fully prepared to argue for punitive damages before the jury, presenting evidence of the driver’s intoxication level, perhaps prior DUI history if any, and the egregiousness of the behavior. Juries in L.A. do not look kindly on drunk drivers who cause harm, so this is a powerful aspect of DUI civil cases that we exploit to your benefit.
• Integrating the Criminal Case Outcome: In parallel to our civil action, the driver will likely be facing a criminal DUI case (with charges like VC 23153 if causing injury). We keep an eye on that process. Sometimes the driver will plead guilty or be convicted – that can actually be used as evidence in the civil case (a criminal conviction for DUI can be considered proof of the facts under the concept of collateral estoppel, in certain circumstances). We can also obtain the restitution order from the criminal case if one is made. However, restitution (money ordered by criminal court to pay victims) often doesn’t cover pain and suffering or full damages, and collection can be slow. We tell clients not to rely on criminal restitution for full compensation – our civil case is where you get comprehensive damages. But if the criminal court does order some restitution, we’ll ensure any amounts paid are credited appropriately. Sometimes, our clients choose to make a victim impact statement in the criminal case; that is a personal choice, but we can guide you through it if you wish. No matter what happens criminally (whether the driver gets jail, probation, or even if somehow charges are dropped), it does not directly limit your civil claim – we proceed regardless. If anything, a guilty plea helps us because it’s an admission of wrongdoing. If the criminal case is ongoing, sometimes we coordinate around it (for example, we might take the driver’s deposition in the civil case after their criminal case concludes, so they have less Fifth Amendment concerns). Providence Law’s experience means we know how to synchronize the civil and criminal aspects to maximize your advantage. Our ultimate focus though is on getting you compensated fully through the civil justice system.

Client Story: Holding a Drunk Driver Accountable

From the moment you hire Providence Law for a dog bite case, we take over the stressful parts so you can focus on healing. Here’s how we assist:

• Investigation and Evidence Gathering: We will start by investigating the details of the bite incident. This includes obtaining any animal control or police reports filed (in Los Angeles, animal bites should be reported to Animal Control; we’ll get those records). Such reports often document the circumstances, the dog’s vaccinations, and any prior incidents. We’ll also gather photographs of your injuries (if you haven’t taken any, we’ll advise you to do so or we can arrange professional photos if needed, especially for visible wounds and scarring). If the bite happened on someone’s property or a public space with cameras, we’ll seek out any surveillance footage. Witnesses are key, too. Maybe a neighbor saw the dog loose earlier, or a passerby saw the attack. We track them down and get statements. In some cases, we might find out this wasn’t the first incident with the same dog. If that’s the case, it can strengthen our claim (though remember, strictly speaking prior bites aren’t needed for liability in California, but they certainly don’t hurt in negotiating with insurers). We handle preserving any evidence, for instance, if torn bloody clothing can be evidence of the severity, we’ll keep it safe as proof. This thorough evidence gathering not only solidifies liability but also paints a vivid picture of what you went through, which is important for valuing pain and suffering.
• Medical Documentation and Treatment Coordination: Dog bites can cause complex injuries – puncture wounds can drive bacteria deep, leading to infections, and lacerations can damage muscles and nerves. Scarring (especially on the face or arms) is a big concern. We make sure all your medical treatment is well-documented. We’ll obtain records from hospitals, urgent care, doctors, and any specialists like plastic surgeons or infectious disease doctors. If you need help finding the right doctors (for example, a good plastic surgeon for scar revision, or a therapist for trauma/PTSD from the attack), we can refer you to qualified professionals. We often work with doctors who will treat on a lien basis, meaning they delay billing you until the case is resolved, so you aren’t stuck paying out-of-pocket. It’s crucial to follow through on medical care, both for your health and for your case; we’ll encourage and assist you in doing so. By the time we’re ready to make a demand, we will have a complete picture of your medical expenses and any future care needs (for example, if a scar might require a future surgery or a child might need counseling for trauma, we’ll include that).
• Proving Liability and Overcoming Defenses: While California’s strict liability makes it easier, sometimes defenses are raised by dog owners or their insurance. Common ones include alleging you provoked the dog, or that you were trespassing, or that you assumed the risk (e.g., you knew the dog was dangerous but interacted anyway). Providence Law is ready for these arguments. We’ll show that you were lawfully on the property (for instance, delivering mail or invited as a guest, which negates trespassing claims). To refute provocation claims, we rely on witness statements or your own account – typically, provocation means you deliberately did something to agitate the dog; innocently walking or reaching out a hand does not count. If the defense argues you were partially at fault (maybe they’ll say you approached a strange dog too closely), we’ll remind them that under comparative negligence, even if that were true, you can still recover damages, and we’ll fight hard to minimize any such assignment of blame to you. Our familiarity with dog bite law means we know the successful counterarguments. We might also use expert opinions, for example, a canine behavior expert can testify that certain dogs show unpredictable aggression that a victim could not have foreseen. The fact that children are often victims also tends to fend off defense arguments; the law and juries recognize that children can’t be held to the same standards of caution. Our role is to make it clear that the responsibility lies with the dog owner, not the unsuspecting victim.
• Calculating Your Damages: Even “minor” dog bites can be quite costly, and major attacks obviously even more so. We methodically calculate all your damages. Medical bills (including estimated future plastic surgery or therapy), lost income if you had to miss work (and in rare cases of extremely severe maulings, lost earning capacity if you have lasting impairments), and property damage (perhaps your clothing or even a phone was destroyed in the attack – those costs count too, albeit small). Then there are intangible damages. Dog bites often leave psychological scars, many clients develop a fear of dogs, nightmares, or anxiety about going outside. Especially if a child is bitten, the emotional trauma can be significant. We value pain and suffering and emotional distress by considering the intensity of the incident and its aftermath. Permanent scars or disfigurement are also a major element; the law allows additional compensation for the embarrassment or humiliation and the ongoing emotional pain a disfiguring scar might cause. We often will wait to see how well wounds heal; a scar may improve over a year or two. If a scar remains noticeable and bothers you, we might get a plastic surgeon’s report on the cost of scar revision or a dermatologist’s evaluation. If the bite caused nerve damage leaving numbness or sensitivity, we factor that in as well. Providence Law will present a comprehensive demand to the dog owner’s insurance, backed by medical records, photographs, and narratives about how this injury affected your daily life.
• Negotiation and Litigation: Once we’ve built a strong claim, we approach the at-fault party’s insurance (or the owner if uninsured, though often homeowners’ insurance applies). Insurance adjusters in dog bite cases know California law is on victims’ side, so our job is to push them to pay a fair amount. We leverage the evidence – for example, graphic photos of the injury and a clear showing of strict liability – to encourage settlement. Our attorneys are skilled negotiators who won’t let the insurer undervalue elements like your pain or a child’s trauma. We’ll cite comparable jury verdicts in Los Angeles for dog bites if needed to show what could happen if they don’t offer a reasonable sum. If the insurance company still lowballs or denies the claim, we will file a lawsuit without hesitation. Sometimes filing suit is what it takes to show we mean business. From there, we continue to fight for you through the litigation process: depositions (where we might depose the owner about the dog’s history, etc.), motions, and ultimately a trial if needed. Many dog bite cases do settle before trial, but we prepare every case as if trial will happen. Our trial attorneys are persuasive storytellers; we can vividly convey to a jury the fear you felt during the attack, the pain of the injuries, and the impact on your life. Juries in our experience tend to be sympathetic to dog bite victims, particularly when we demonstrate that the owner was irresponsible. Knowing we have this courtroom capability often brings the defense to the table with a fair offer before the verdict is in someone else’s hands.

Personal Advocacy: Throughout the case, Providence Law maintains a personal touch. We know a dog bite can be an emotional ordeal, maybe you’re wrestling with anger at the owner who let this happen, or you’re helping your child cope with new fears. We are not only your legal representatives but also your advocates. We’ll check in on your recovery, make sure you’re getting the support you need, and keep you updated on case progress. If you have questions, we are a phone call away. Dealing with legal claims can be intimidating, but we strive to make it as stress-free as possible for you. By entrusting us with the process, you can focus on getting better. And if any other issues arise (say, an insurance company tries to get you to give a statement, or the dog owner contacts you), we handle those; you can direct everything to us. Our goal is that by the end of the case, you not only receive proper compensation but also feel that justice was served and you can move forward without the weight of this incident overshadowing your life.

Case Example: Justice for a Dog Bite Victim

To demonstrate how we fight for DUI crash victims, let’s share a client story. Providence Law represented a young man who was T-boned in an intersection in Santa Monica at 2 AM by a drunk driver running a red light. Our client suffered a fractured pelvis and a moderate traumatic brain injury (concussion with lasting effects). The drunk driver had a BAC of 0.18 and tried to flee on foot but was caught by police within minutes. Criminal charges were filed. On the civil side, we immediately filed a lawsuit and, because of the blatant misconduct, included a claim for punitive damages. The driver’s insurance company initially offered policy limits of $100,000, but our client’s medical bills and future rehab needs far exceeded that. We discovered the driver was a wealthy individual and also that he had been at a bar prior to driving. We pursued a dual strategy: pushing the driver to pay above his policy (to cover punitive exposure) and investigating the bar’s liability (it turned out he was overserved while clearly intoxicated, and tragically, they even joked about calling him a cab but didn’t). Using a California law exception for serving obviously intoxicated patrons (especially since we had witnesses from the bar), we brought the bar into the lawsuit. Facing pressure from multiple angles, and after the driver pled guilty in the criminal case (essentially admitting fault), we secured a settlement of $1.2 million, the insurance limits plus a substantial personal contribution and a confidential amount from the bar. This allowed our client to afford all necessary medical care and compensated him for the life impacts of his brain injury. Importantly, we made sure that the drunk driver felt the consequences: by paying out of pocket and seeing the gravity of what he’d done through depositions and the civil process, there was a sense of justice served beyond his criminal sentence. Our client expressed that while the crash changed his life, knowing that Providence Law held the driver fully accountable helped him find closure and financial stability. This story exemplifies our approach: relentless advocacy, creative legal tactics, and an unwavering commitment to our client’s wellbeing.