Required

If you were injured in a crash with a driver under the influence of illicit drugs, you will benefit by reaching out to a Michigan drug impairment car accident lawyer to discuss your legal options.

Victims of auto accidents in Michigan have legal rights.  You can sue a drugged driver operating a vehicle for personal injury damages.

You can also pursue payments through no-fault insurance coverage.  These claims are for lost wages, medical expenses, attendant care services, and household services.

By working with a skilled attorney, you could have helped to gather evidence of fault and file a claim for compensation.

Establishing Fault for Drug-Impaired Accidents

Showing negligence is an essential step for filing a claim against an at-fault motorist. Essentially, there are four elements that must be established in order to successfully pursue compensation.

  • Duty of care—the motorist has a legal obligation to obey the rules of the road and drive safely
  • Breach of duty—the driver disregarded their duty of care by violating the rules of the road
  • Causation—this violation was the root cause of an accident
  • Damages—the accident caused by the defendant resulted in injuries and additional crash-related losses to the claimant

Because of this obligation, any driver that was operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs is likely to have considered civilly liable for a crash. The sooner that evidence is organized and prepared for a claim, the easier it might be for an injured claimant to pursue compensation for their financial strain and focus on their recovery.

However, establishing each element of negligence could be complex and overwhelming, especially for an underprepared claimant.

A Michigan drug impairment car accident lawyer could help to explain how fault is established and work tirelessly to gather sufficient evidence for a claim.

Drug-Involved Michigan Car Accident Statistics

The bar chart below identifies the total number of fatalities and fatal crashes involving drugs from 2008-2018 in Michigan. In 2013, there were a record number of fatalities involving drugs reported (165), according to data compiled by the Traffic Crash Reporting Unit.

Michigan drug impaired fatal car accidents graph - Buckfire Law accident lawyers

Can I Sue a Drugged Driver for a Car Accident?

You can sue a driver under the influence of drugs if that person was at fault for the accident.  With the new marijuana laws and serious problems with opiate abuse, the number of drug-impaired accidents is on the rise.  If you were hit by a drugged driver, you can file a lawsuit for pain and suffering damages.

Settlement payouts include compensation for pain and suffering, fright and shock, and loss of enjoyment of life.  Payouts can also include excess wage loss claims and other losses.

What Happens When an Injured Driver is Partially At-Fault?

Every person injured in an auto accident should be aware of the relevant statutes linked to comparative negligence and limitations.

For example, pursuant to Michigan Compiled Laws §600.2959, if a claimant is found to share some of the blame for a crash, their damages would be reduced proportionately to their percentage of liability. Furthermore, any victim found to be greater than 50 percent at fault might be barred from recovering any damages.

Additionally, there are deadlines for taking legal action that are important to understand. The statute of limitations—outlined under MCL §600.5805—gives three years from the date of the accident for an injured person to seek compensation.

While there might be exceptions to this timeline, a prospective claimant who tries to file a claim after this time frame runs the risk of facing a dismissal.

Help from a Michigan Drug Impairment Car Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one was injured in an accident with a motorist who was under the influence of drugs, call us now.  We will start working on your case immediately.

We charge no legal fees and only get paid if you win a settlement.  It costs nothing to get started and we pay all of the case expenses.

Contact our Michigan drug impaired car accident lawyers today!

Awards and Accolades
Our No Fee Promise No Legal Fees Until You Settle or Win