Law Offices of John Rapillo

Orange County Drunk Driver Accident Lawyer

Southern California accident attorney John Rapillo is a trial lawyer for plaintiffs – he helps victims get the best possible outcome in personal injury settlements and lawsuits. From his Orange County personal injury law offices in Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, California, personal injury attorney John Rapillo takes cases throughout Southern California including: Irvine, Costa Mesa, Santa Ana Heights, Corona Del Mar, Garden Grove, Stanton, Rossmoor, Yorktown, Adams, Fountain Valley, Midway City, Golden West, Riverview, and Tustin.

We Seek to Hold All Parties Accountable for Drunk Driving Accidents

Of the persons who were killed in traffic crashes in 2007, 32 percent died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. – Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Injury or death caused by a drunk driver is perhaps the most upsetting, anger-provoking of all kinds of personal injury cases. The thought of an innocent victim suffering serious or fatal injury at the hands of an irresponsible individual can evoke outrage among members of the community.

At the Law Offices of John Rapillo, we aggressively pursue claims against irresponsible drinkers and the bars, nightclubs, and restaurants that improperly serve them.

Although the law can never replace a loved one, it does provide means of recovery for victims. Victims can sue the drunk driver under the general laws of negligence, but often the drunk driver is either uninsured or underinsured and has few, if any, assets to support a lawsuit.

Even if there is no way to pursue recovery against the drunk driver, there may be a way to pursue recovery against the person who provided the alcoholic beverage to the drunk driver. People who serve alcoholic beverages to obviously intoxicated minors may be liable under California law for damages resulting from the consumption of the alcoholic beverages.

California Law Allows Drunk Driver Victims to Sue Liquor Stores, Bars, and Restaurants

In California, a person who sells, furnishes, gives, or causes to be sold an alcoholic beverage to a habitual or common drunkard or to any obviously intoxicated person is guilty of a misdemeanor. In addition, Dram shop acts (“dram” was once a common term for “liquor”) also impose liability for negligence on the sellers of alcoholic beverages for sales to persons under the legal drinking age who are obviously intoxicated.  A liquor store, bar or restaurant may be responsible for any damages caused by a person’s drinking if it sold alcohol to an underage person who was obviously intoxicated.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2009, single vehicle crashes from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM showed high alcohol involvement, as much as 70 percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers during these times had BACs at or above 0.08 percent.  This data reflects a time period when people are likely getting drunk in bars, restaurants and at parties, and then attempting to drive home while intoxicated.

In some states liability can attach to “social hosts” as well. A social host is an individual who serves alcoholic beverages in a social setting, such as a home or a party, or as where an employer serves alcoholic beverages at a company. .

More Information: Drunk Driver Accidents, Settlements, and Lawsuits

If you or a loved one is a victim of a drunk driver you need an attorney experienced with drunk driving accident cases – an attorney who understands your anger, what you are going through, and who will prepare a strong case on your behalf.

At the Law Offices of John Rapillo we offer a free legal consultation to help you understand your rights and determine if you have a case that may entitle you to compensation for medical expenses and for damages resulting from your injuries.  We will aggressively pursue all parties who can be held accountable in drunk driving accidents.

Call our Southern California wrongful death and personal injury law offices now toll free at 800-814-4771; or call our Newport Beach Office at 949-675-5060; Huntington Beach Office: 714-848-4849 or CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A SIMPLE CASE FORM. In all matters involving personal injury it is essential that measures be taken promptly to preserve evidence, investigate the accident in question, and to file a lawsuit prior to the deadline imposed by the statute of limitations. The sooner you call, the sooner we can help you.

Your initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to accept your case, we will work on a contingent fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary award or recovery of funds for you. We can advise you if you have a valid claim and if you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, but a personal injury civil lawsuit must be filed before the statute of limitations expires.

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