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Rollover Accident and Drunk Driver

ROLLOVER  ACCIDENT INVOLVING A DRUNK DRIVER – LAWSUIT INFORMATION: Pritzker | Ruohonen represents clients throughout the United States.  Fred Pritzker and Rich Ruohonen have, once again, been named “Super Lawyers” by their state’s Law & Politics magazine.  Fred Pritzker has also been selected by other lawyers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America. To contact a lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen for a free consultation about a rollover accident involving a drunk driver, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s online-consultation form.

Rollover Accident Caused by a Drunk Driver - Lawsuit Information
Nearly half of all fatal rollover crashes involve alcohol. Impairment can result from any blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above .00. Even a small amount of alcohol will negatively affect your judgment, muscular coordination, and vision, making you more likely to lose control of your vehicle.

In many states, if someone violates the state criminal laws by driving while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol (referred to as drunk driving, DUI and DWI), it is prima facia evidence of negligence in a civil case—a rollover accident case for damages (compensation).  This does not mean that someone who is injured by a drunk driver will automatically win a lawsuit against the drunk driver, but it does mean that the person suing has a good case.

If the drunk driver in the rollover accident has not been charged or convicted of drunk driving, a person injured by the drunk driver can still bring a civil lawsuit against the driver.  The person suing the drunk driver may still have a good case, but evidence of the intoxication will have to be proven by a preponderance of the evidence.  A good rollover accident lawyer will be able to present a case successfully whether there is a criminal conviction or not.

Punitive Damages in Rollover Lawsuits Involving Drunk Drivers

In a civil action against a drunk driver, the injured party can ask for punitive damages, which, depending on the circumstances, can be significant.  For example, Pritzker | Ruohonen won $6,000,000 on behalf of a 26 year-old female passenger whose right leg was traumatically amputated when the motorcycle on which she was a passenger was struck by a drunk driver.

Evidence of past criminal convictions for drunk driving or criminal vehicular homicide or injury is admissible into evidence in many states.  Generally, if there are past criminal convictions for either drunk driving or vehicular homicide, it is more likely that punitive damages will be awarded in the rollover accident lawsuit.


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Pritzker | Ruohonen Newsletter

Pritzker | Ruohonen is now publishing its newsletters online. Sign up today to receive the newsletter via email. Read our newsletters: Feb/March 2008 and April/May 2008.

 

Yamaha Rhino Lawsuit

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Traumatic Brain Injury

Pritzker | Ruohonen attorneys Fred Pritzker, Rich Ruohonen and Elliot Olsen spoke at the annual Minnesota Association for Justice Brain Injury Seminar.

 

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Attorney Rich Ruohonen was interviewed by Lawyers USA, a national legal magazine, for a story about lawnmower accident lawsuits.