Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) tells us that, in 2014, there were 121,317 reported traffic accidents injuring 79,758 people and causing 1,195 deaths. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a crash anywhere in Pennsylvania, one of the Pennsylvania motor vehicle accident lawyers listed in this directory can help you and your family recover the compensation that you need and deserve. Please, do not wait until time runs out to get started.
Drunk Driving and Punitive Damages
In 2014, 333 people in Pennsylvania were killed in alcohol-related crashes. That is nearly 28% of all traffic accident fatalities for the year.
Punitive damages are meant to punish the wrongdoer and serve as a deterrent to others who might behave in the same manner. They are above and beyond what is necessary to compensate you for your losses. In most types of traffic accident lawsuits punitive damages are not available, because you must prove that the at-fault driver knew they were putting others at a high risk of injury and chose to do so anyway.
Very few accidents meet that standard, but some drunk driving accidents do. The mere fact that alcohol was involved is not enough to meet the standard. You will have to prove indifference to the danger to others, with evidence such as a very high BAC or a history of drunk driving.
Dram Shop and Social Host Liability
In some cases, a person or business that served or provided alcohol to a person who went on to cause an accident because they were drunk can be held financially responsible for your injuries or the loss of a loved one.
Dram shop laws apply to establishments that sell alcohol, such as bars, restaurants and liquor stores. Under Pennsylvania’s dram shop law, these establishments and the individuals who serve or sell alcohol can be held liable if they provide alcohol to someone who is under 21 years old or who is visibly intoxicated. The drunk driver may even be able to recover compensation for their own injuries in these cases.
Social host liability applies in situations such as a private party in someone’s home. If an adult social host provides enough alcohol to someone who is under 21 that they become intoxicated and then go out and cause an accident, that adult can be held liable for the injuries. Social host liability does not apply, in Pennsylvania, in cases of adult drunk driving accidents nor does it apply if the homeowner was not aware of underage drinking going on in their home.
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a fatal crash in Pennsylvania, please browse our directory of car accident lawyers to speak to one of the experienced Pennsylvania motor vehicle accident lawyers profiled on this website.