Burbank Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers
Drunk driving accidents are devastating crashes that can forever change a victim’s life. Worse yet, these collisions are entirely preventable. Nonetheless, some continue to choose to drive under the influence of alcohol, even in suburban areas like Burbank, where driving under the influence is taken very seriously. Even a person who has just a few beers at Buffalo Wild wings while watching Monday Night Football can still cause a deadly drunk driving crash if they decide to drive home.
Any victim of such a tragic incident should not be left dealing with the horrifying repercussions that follow on their own. Drunk driving victims deserve justice for the astronomical medical expenses to treat the injuries they incur, the pain and suffering they have to endure, and the other major life impacts that victims of drunk driving often experience.
The skilled Burbank drunk driving accident lawyers at Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers are here to help victims recover the compensation they deserve.
Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC—Who We Are
The law firm of Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers was founded to help those harmed in accidents recover the compensation they deserve. With over two decades of personal injury case experience, the firm has helped thousands of victims, taken on numerous challenging lawsuits in state and federal courts, and recovered over $100 million for clients in settlements and court awards.
If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident, you can trust the experienced Burbank auto accident lawyers at Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC. Our legal team possesses the knowledge, resources, and experience to successfully take on your case and get you the compensation you deserve.
In fact, attorney and firm founder, Levik Yarian, has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top trial lawyers in the greater Los Angeles area, and along with the other lawyers in the firm, he is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a prestigious group of trial lawyers who have won million or multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts.
Contact us today online to see how we can help you in your Burbank drunk driving accident case.
California Drunk Driving by the Numbers
Every day, around 28 people in the United States die in drunk driving accidents. That is almost 10,000 lives that are claimed every year, or one person every 52 minutes. This deadly but preventable kind of accident is not only a national concern.
In California, drunk driving is a particularly significant problem, with statistics showing that:
- More than 1,000 alcohol-impaired driving deaths take place in the state every year
- Approximately 30 percent of all driving deaths in the state are the result of alcohol-impaired driving collisions
- The highest number of alcohol-involved fatalities and severe injuries occur in central and southern California, with the greatest number in Los Angeles County
Why Does so Much Drunk Driving Take Place in Burbank, CA?
Everyone knows that drunk driving can happen anywhere, regardless of the city or state. However, in California, especially Los Angeles County, where Burbank is located, the culture and traffic conditions contribute to the prevalence of drunk driving.
The Nightlife
Burbank is only a 12-minute drive from Los Angeles, which means tourists staying in the area or local residents are only minutes away from world-class nightlife with extravagant spaces, top international DJs, nightclubs, and various restaurants and bars. These make LA an ideal location for a Friday night out or a weekend getaway, with limitless opportunities for alcohol consumption.
Unfortunately, all it takes is a few alcoholic beverages to impair a driver who has to make their way back to Burbank. Individuals who drink irresponsibly and then get behind the wheel to drive home may cause catastrophic drunk driving crashes and devastating injuries.
An Ideal Vacation Spot
With Burbank being only ten miles from downtown Los Angeles and minutes away from Burbank and East LA, it is filled with tourists and visitors all year round. Tourists kick back and relax as well, and it is not uncommon for alcohol to start flowing, especially with widely known local bars nearby, such as Burbank Tap or Giggles Night club.
But tourists also tend to need to get around a lot, and they often do so by driving. If a tourist who is dependent on a rental car to get around fails to moderate their alcohol consumption, they can cause accidents with severe consequences for themselves and Burbank residents alike.
Dangerous Intersections in Burbank
Certain streets in Burbank are more prone to collisions than other locations, and become even more so if an impaired driver comes across them. When a motorist decides to drink and drive, their judgment, reaction time, and coordination suffer, making difficult intersections even more deadly. This means that drivers need to stay alert when traveling, especially when coming across busy intersections.
The following dangerous Burbank intersections are busier areas making the risk of serious injuries and death in drunk driving collisions more likely:
- Chevy Chase Drive and Brand Boulevard
- Goode Avenue and North Brand Boulevard
- Central Avenue and Goode Avenue
- Brand Boulevard and Sanchez Drive
- West Glenoaks Blvd and Western Avenue
Lack of Public Transportation
Even though there are a few options for public transportation in Burbank, such as the Metrolink Train, which runs from Burbank to LA, its hours of service are limited, and it does not run into the late-night hours. This can make it challenging for those looking to go from Burbank to L.A. for a night on the town with drinks.
Some may make the smart alternative decision to call an Uber or taxi. But others may overestimate their abilities and try to save money by driving themselves, especially since it is a relatively short drive from Burbank to downtown LA. But even in this short time, drunk drivers can end up in serious accidents.
What are signs of Drunk / Drugged Driving?
Drugged driving, by definition, is to operate a vehicle while under the effects of drugs. When you are on drugs, your brain is temporarily impaired and does not function the same as when you are sober. Similar to alcohol, other drugs have the potential to affect your brain while driving in ways such as the following:
- Slowed down reaction time
- Impaired judgment of time and distance
- Decreased coordination
- Zig zagging
- Lack of attention on the road
Is Alcohol the Only Cause of Drunk Driving?
No. Alcohol is bar far the most common substance responsible for DUI injury accidents but other common drugs seen in drugged driving-related accidents include:
- Marijuana
- Crack
- Methamphetamines (METH)
- Cocaine
- Other Prescription Drugs (i.e., opioids, stimulants, depressants)
- OTC Drugs and Herbal Supplements (if appropriate)
What Are Some Common Injuries In Burbank Drunk Driving Accidents?
Drunk driving accidents are horrifying crashes that often result in numerous fatalities. Those who survive these devastating collisions rarely escape without any injuries. Burbank drunk driving accidents may cause catastrophic injuries, debilitating pain, and disabilities that forever change a person’s life.
While drunk driving accident injuries range in severity, type, and scope depending on the circumstances of the crash, some of the more common drunk driving accident injuries people suffer include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Internal organ damage and bleeding
- Soft tissue injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Facial trauma, including eye injuries
- Broken bones
- Severe disfigurement and scarring
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
Who is Liable Following a Burbank Drunk Driving Accident?
Probably the drunk driver.
However, certain other parties could also pay for a drunk driving accident, such as:
- An Employer: In some drunk driving accidents, employers can also be held responsible for a drunk driving crash if the drunk driver was an employee of the employer and was driving within the scope of their employment.
- Alcohol Vendors: According to California law, alcohol vendors can be held liable if the drunk driver who caused the accident was a minor and obviously intoxicated when the vendor served them alcohol.
- Liable Third Parties: Other parties who contributed to the accident can also be responsible for the crash.
The best way to figure out who is responsible for your drunk driving accident is to reach out to an experienced Burbank drunk driving accident lawyer, such as those at Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers as soon as possible after your accident. These lawyers can promptly review your collision, find out all of the parties were potentially responsible for your accident, and seek to hold all such parties accountable for your injuries and losses.
What Damages are Available in a Burbank Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuit?
After a drunk driving accident, you may be able to recover certain types of compensation for the losses and injuries you sustained. In California, this compensation includes the following:
Economic Damages: These damages are verifiable losses that occurred because of the accident.
These may include:
- Past, current, and future medical bills related to your treatments, including any emergency medical services, hospital stay, surgeries, doctor visits, assistive medical devices, and prescription medications
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Rehabilitative services, including occupational and physical therapy
- At-home nursing services
- Replacement household services such as cleaning services, grocery shopping services, or child care services
- Personal property damages
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic Damages: These damages refer to the more subjective losses that are hard to quantify.
They include:
- Pain and Suffering
- Mental Anguish
- Loss of a limb
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of reputation
- Inconvenience
- Loss of enjoyment of life
In addition, in exceptional cases, a drunk driving accident victim may also receive punitive damages. Unlike the previously mentioned damages, which compensate the victim for their losses following an accident, punitive damages punish the defendant for their egregious actions and deter others from committing these dangerous acts. For the court to award these damages, the victim’s lawyer needs to show the defendant acted with a conscious disregard for the victim’s safety and rights. You may get punitive damages easier in a drunk driving accident case than an ordinary car accident case caused by speeding or driving distracted.
What is the Deadline to Bring a Burbank Drunk Driving Accident Claim?
Every state has a legal deadline called a “statute of limitations” that dictates the amount of time a person has to file a lawsuit following an alleged offense. If a lawsuit is not filed within this time, the individual can be barred from collecting compensation for their injuries and damages.
In California, the statute of limitations to file a personal injury claim following a drunk driving accident is two years from the date of the accident. However, various exceptions can apply to this rule and can change the amount of time a victim has to file.
Because of this, reach out to a Burbank drunk driving accident lawyer at Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers as soon as possible after the accident. Our attorneys can review your case, figure out the maximum amount of time you have to file your claim, and ensure your legal documents and motions are appropriately prepared and filed before time runs out.
Call Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers Today, and Get the Legal Help You Need in Your Burbank, CA Drunk Driving Accident Case
No amount of money can fully erase the hurt, losses, and damages you suffer because another driver decided to put your life at risk by getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. At Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC, we know that after this tragedy, you need justice for the trauma you went through and compensation to help you start rebuilding your life. Our firm is here to help with that.
Once you retain one of our Burbank drunk driving accident attorneys, we can promptly get to work:
- Going over your accident, evaluating your case, and determining if you have a viable claim
- Figuring out your legal options
- Answering all the questions you have regarding your accident and the legal process involved with your case
- Obtaining experts, such as doctors and accident reconstructionists, to help prove liability and substantiate your claim
- Handling all the negotiations and discussions with the other side, including the insurance company, and pursuing a just settlement on your behalf
- Proceeding to trial, if the other side refuses to negotiate a fair settlement, and working tirelessly to win the highest amount of damages possible.
If a Burbank drunk driving accident harmed you or a loved one, secure the experienced legal help you need. Contact Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC today at (818) 459-4999 for your free case evaluation, and let our Burbank personal injury lawyers show you how we can fight for the justice and financial relief you deserve.
Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers Burbank Office
500 E Olive Ave Suite 720,
Burbank, CA 91501
(818) 459-4999
Additional Resources
Get Help | Mothers Against Drunk Driving – Follow the link provided to reach a community of mothers combatting drunk driving. This network has emotional support groups and resources for the victims’ loved ones. If you are the mother of a victim or support the fight against drunk driving, click the link to find out more.
Different Effects of Blood Alcohol Concentration – This page demonstrates the various physical effects of alcohol according to blood alcohol concentration level. The higher the levels of alcohol, the greater the physical danger. These effects give an idea of the imposed risk that alcohol puts us in, especially when it’s the driver that is intoxicated.
Drugged Driving | National Institute on Drug Abuse – The National Institute on Drug Abuse has more information involving the effects of specific drugs on the impairment to operate a vehicle. You can also find data and research about the most common types of drugs affecting in drugged driving accidents.
Stop Drugged Driving | Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc. – The Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc is a nonprofit organization founded to reduce the use of illegal substances. Stop Drugged Driving is a specific division of the organization. Stop Drugged Driving aims at providing information about policies and research on drugged driving and spreading social awareness.
