Hampton, VA, DUI Accident Attorney

How Common Are DUI Accidents?

The latest DUI statistics show that it is still a prevalent problem in the United States:

• A report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that alcohol-related crashes claimed 32% of all traffic deaths in 2022.
• NHTSA estimated that 13,524 people were killed by drunk drivers in 2022.
• Drunk driving arrests are higher than arrests made for violent crimes like murder, rape, and aggravated assault combined.
• Over 22% of drivers over age 21 admit to intoxicated driving, with 12% saying they do so regularly.

The numbers show that DUI accidents and the circumstances that create them are far too common, causing thousands of preventable deaths each year. For those injured and the family members of those lost to such needless tragedy, a lawsuit can help you take back control.

Watch a Hampton, VA, Crash Survivor Recount His Experience With Our Firm

Chris Stoops from Hampton, VA, came to the Smith Law Center after suffering a traumatic brain injury in a serious car crash. Listen to how our team secured a successful outcome for him in the legal aftermath: 

Statistics on DUI Driving in Hampton, VA

Virginia has seen a significant rise in DUI-related fatalities over the past five years, ranking ninth in the nation for the increase in DUI crash deaths. Here are some key DUI statistics from Virginia:

• 293 people died in alcohol-related crashes in Virginia in 2023. This was a 6.9% increase from 2022. Hampton, VA, accounted for 8 of these fatalities. 
• In 2023, 4,400 people were injured in alcohol-related crashes in Virginia, a 5.4% increase over 2022. In Hampton, VA, there were 194 injuries from DUI crashes. 
• There were 6,979 alcohol-related crashes in Virginia in 2023. In Hampton, VA, there were 178 DUI crashes that year.
• DUI-related fatalities have increased by over 44% from 2018 to 2022.
• On average, one person was killed and 11 injured daily in Virginia in 2022 due to DUIs.
• More than 14,000 people were convicted of DUI in Virginia in 2023.
• The "100 Deadliest Days" in Virginia for drunk driving are from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with an increase in DUI crashes expected.

In 2023, Hampton had the highest rate of traffic deaths in Virginia, with 1.53 deaths per 10,000 residents. This high traffic death rate could be due to Hampton, VA’s dangerous intersections.

By holding drunk and intoxicated drivers responsible, you help remove potential repeat offenders from the roads in Hampton, VA, possibly saving lives.

When you work with a Hampton, VA, DUI accident lawyer, you can improve your personal prospects and help prevent future accidents. Contact the Smith Law Center at (757) 244-7000 or fill out our online form to take legal action today.

Watch Out for Recorded Statements to Insurance Companies

When you’ve been injured by a drunk driver, you think the process would be straightforward, but insurance companies can make things much more complicated. 

The insurance company may request a recorded statement from you, and this is often a trap that many don’t see coming. While it might seem like a harmless step, these companies are skilled at using your words against you. They often ask questions designed to minimize their payout, and even the simplest answers can be twisted.

For example, if they ask how you're feeling right after the accident, your response, "I’m fine,” could be used to argue that your injuries weren’t serious, even if you were just in shock and hadn’t realized the full extent of your pain yet. 

You can protect your claim by consulting with a Hampton, VA, DUI accident attorney before speaking to an insurance company. 

How Can a Hampton, VA, Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Help Me?

Drunk driving is a completely selfish and morally reprehensible act that puts innocent lives at risk, leaving victims to pick up the pieces of someone else’s reckless decision. If you’ve been injured by an intoxicated driver, you deserve more than just justice; you deserve to be fully supported through the legal and insurance hurdles that follow.

A seasoned and knowledgeable drunk driving accident attorney in Hampton, VA, can be one of your greatest assets when filing a lawsuit. Here’s how they can be a supportive ally in the legal battle ahead: 

• Handle Insurance Companies: The drunk driver’s insurance company may try to downplay your injuries or deny your claim altogether. Your attorney can take over communications and negotiations to ensure they don’t get away with giving you less than what you deserve.
• Dig Into the Driver’s Record: Through their connections and resources, your lawyer can uncover important records, like previous DUI arrests or a history of reckless driving, to strengthen your case and show the severity of the other driver’s negligence.
• Work With Professionals: Sometimes, experts like accident reconstructionists or medical professionals are needed to back up your case. An attorney can bring these experts in to explain how the drunk driver’s actions directly caused your injuries.
• Fight for Maximum Compensation: A personal injury attorney will make sure every aspect of your life affected by the accident is accounted for when seeking financial support. 

A 2016 study by Martindale-Nolo discovered that those who hired a lawyer were likelier to walk away with a settlement. In fact, the survey reported that over 90% of people with legal representation received a settlement or award, compared to only about half of those who handled their injury claims alone.

What Can a DUI Accident Lawsuit Settlement Cover?

DUI car accident lawsuit settlements can cover:

• Economic losses like hospital costs from your injuries, lost wages, and property damage — amounts often shown by literal receipts.
• Non-economic losses such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, or loss of relationship health in a marriage strained by the accident.
• Wrongful death losses such as funeral costs and the irreplaceable love and companionship of the person who passed.

The Smith Law Center has recovered over $1 billion for our clients over the years, including a record-setting $7.5 million to a woman who suffered a brain injury during a car accident in Virginia.

We will do everything in our power to ensure you receive the maximum payout you’re entitled to — funds that may help afford dignified care and financial stability for the rest of your life.

What Information Does a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Hampton, VA, Need?

Here is some of the most important information it would be helpful to have when beginning a DUI lawsuit:

• Date and location of the accident so the scene can be investigated by your attorney.
• Contact information, including the names of drivers, passengers, and witnesses, if there were any.
• The police report that was filed on the accident.
• Insurance information for yourself and the other driver, if known.
• Receipts for any medical care, missed work or wages, or tows and vehicle costs related to the accident (including renting or buying alternate transportation).

If you do not have some or any of this information readily available, that is perfectly okay. It’s an attorney’s job to build a legal case, not yours. 

Your lawyer can gather all of the information required to file a lawsuit, including subpoenaing (legally demanding) information that might otherwise be inaccessible to you. Examples include personal details about the driver who hit you, or security footage from nearby businesses.

“We bring the right response at the right time because we’re committed to your success.”

- Stewart Gill | Attorney at the Smith Law Center

Who Is at Fault in a Drunk Driving Accident?

A drunk driver will almost always bear some fault for any accident they are involved in. However, their insurance company or defense lawyers may argue that you were partially at fault if they can. This is done in an attempt to lessen the responsibility of their client.

Do not worry about what opposing counsel may try to claim. Your Hampton, VA, DUI accident lawyer from the Smith Law Center can protect you and your reputation by securing evidence that shows the true cause of the accident. This may include evidence of intoxication of the other driver like a bar tender’s testimony, their blood-alcohol content, or police statements.

At the end of the day, a DUI driver is a lawbreaker, and their actions may have caused or contributed significantly to all that you have suffered from the crash. Do not count yourself out of justice before speaking with a qualified attorney regarding your options.