You’re driving home through Scranton after work or heading down Interstate 81 when another driver suddenly crosses the center line or runs a red light. The crash happens instantly. Later, you learn the other driver was under the influence of alcohol.
Drunk driving accidents can be more devastating than ordinary crashes. Many victims are left not only with serious injuries and financial stress, but also with anger, knowing the collision and all the harm it caused was entirely preventable. We understand that when someone chooses to drive impaired, the consequences can affect innocent people for years.
At The Slocum Firm, our Scranton drunk driving accident lawyers help injured people and families pursue compensation after serious DUI-related crashes throughout Lackawanna County and across Pennsylvania. We understand how criminal DUI investigations, insurance claims, and civil injury lawsuits can overlap, and how evidence from the criminal case may help strengthen your injury claim.
When you need answers, call (570) 209-7376 to speak directly with our attorneys. We are available 24/7, and you will never pay legal fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Why You Should Choose The Slocum Firm for Your Drunk Driving Accident Claim
Drunk driving injury cases often involve more than a standard insurance claim. These crashes may include criminal investigations, blood alcohol testing, bar liability issues, and disputes involving multiple insurance policies.
At The Slocum Firm, we understand how to investigate these cases thoroughly while helping injured clients navigate the physical, financial, and emotional impact of a serious DUI collision.
Injured clients throughout Pennsylvania choose our firm because we offer:
- Over a 95% recovery rate for injured clients
- Millions of dollars recovered for injured people across Pennsylvania
- More than 50 years of combined legal experience
- Direct access to our attorneys by phone or text
- Availability 24/7 for questions and updates
- No upfront legal fees or hourly billing
We know that victims of drunk driving accidents often feel frustrated and unsure about their next steps. Our goal is to help you pursue accountability while protecting your financial future.
What Makes a Drunk Driving Accident Case Different?
With the number of alcohol-related crashes on the rise in Pennsylvania, more people are being harmed by impaired drivers each year. Our team is here to help explain accident victims’ rights and options after being injured by a drunk driver.
A drunk driving accident claim is still a personal injury case, but several important factors can make these claims more complex and potentially more valuable than a typical crash.
First, evidence of impaired driving may support stronger proof of negligence. Unlike ordinary accidents, where fault may be disputed, DUI-related crashes often involve police investigations, breath or blood alcohol testing, and criminal charges that help establish responsibility.
Second, drunk driving cases sometimes involve additional sources of compensation, including punitive damages or dram shop liability claims against bars or restaurants that overserved a visibly intoxicated person.
Finally, these cases often involve parallel legal proceedings. The criminal DUI case and the civil injury claim are separate matters, but evidence from the criminal process may significantly strengthen the injury claim.
How Does the Criminal DUI Case Affect Your Injury Claim?
| Criminal DUI Case | Civil Injury Claim |
| Brought by the state | Brought by the injured victim |
| Focuses on punishment | Focuses on compensation |
| Can result in jail, fines, license suspension | Can result in financial recovery |
| Requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt | Uses lower civil burden of proof |
| Prosecuted by district attorney | Handled by injury attorneys |
| BAC tests and guilty pleas may become evidence | Helps strengthen liability claim |
Both cases can move forward at the same time, and evidence from the DUI prosecution may strengthen your injury claim.
One of the most common questions injured people ask is whether they must wait for the DUI case to finish before pursuing compensation. In most situations, the answer is no.
The criminal case and civil injury claim are separate legal proceedings with different purposes:
- The criminal DUI case focuses on punishing the criminal defendant and ensuring public safety. Accident victims’ losses are not included in the final outcome.
- The civil injury claim focuses on providing financial compensation for the accident victim
However, evidence from the criminal case can still play an important role in the injury claim.
DUI Charges and Evidence
Police reports, blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test results, field sobriety testing, witness statements, and dash camera footage from the criminal investigation may all help support the civil claim.
Guilty Pleas and Convictions
If the impaired driver pleads guilty or is convicted, that evidence may strengthen arguments regarding that driver’s negligence in the injury case.
ARD and Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition
Pennsylvania’s Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program can sometimes complicate these situations. If a DUI defendant enters this program, ARD is not technically a criminal conviction. However, participation in ARD may still become relevant evidence in a civil case depending on the circumstances.
We understand how these legal interactions can become highly technical. This is another reason why it is crucial to work with our drunk driving injury lawyers. We know how to carefully investigate and build a solid legal strategy to protect your civil rights.
What Is Dram Shop Liability in Pennsylvania?
In some drunk driving accident cases, the impaired driver may not be the only party that can be held responsible for your injuries. Pennsylvania dram shop laws allow injured victims to pursue claims against bars, restaurants, or establishments that served alcohol to minors or someone who was visibly intoxicated before the crash.
Why Dram Shop Cases Matter
Many drunk drivers carry only minimum auto insurance policies that may not fully cover catastrophic injuries. Commercial establishments, however, often carry larger business liability insurance policies. This can significantly affect the compensation available to injured victims.
What Must Be Proven?
Under Pennsylvania law, dram shop liability generally requires evidence that:
- The establishment served alcohol to a person who later caused an accident
- The person was a minor or visibly intoxicated when served
- The intoxication contributed to the crash
Our team will conduct a thorough investigation to gather facts to build a claim against any liable establishments. Evidence supporting a dram shop claim often includes surveillance footage, receipts, witness statements, and bartender testimony.
Do You Have a Drunk Driving Accident Case?
In the most general sense, you may have a valid injury claim if an impaired driver caused your accident and injuries. However, even when the other driver’s fault seems obvious, insurance companies may still attempt to minimize the value of your claim or dispute the extent of your injuries.
To build a solid drunk driving accident case, we must show:
- The other driver was arrested or investigated for DUI
- Alcohol impairment contributed to the crash
- You suffered injuries requiring medical treatment
- The accident caused lost income or long-term limitations
- Facts related to additional liable parties, such as a bar or restaurant
Even if the criminal case is still ongoing, it is important to begin investigating the civil claim as early as possible. Call us today to begin the process.
What Compensation Is Available After a Drunk Driving Accident?
Drunk driving crashes frequently cause severe injuries because impaired drivers often fail to brake or try to avoid the collision before impact. When we prepare a personal injury claim, we ensure our legal demand accounts for the full impact the accident has had on your life.
Depending on the facts of your accident, we may pursue legal damages (money) to cover the following losses:
Medical Expenses
Compensation may include emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medication, and future medical care related to the crash. We know that some injuries may require years of treatment or lifelong care. Our goal is to ensure you receive enough money to cover all of your expected future expenses.
Lost Income and Future Earnings
If your injuries prevent you from working, you may recover compensation for lost wages and other forms of income. Since serious injuries may also affect your future ability to earn income, we pursue payment for all anticipated future income losses as well.
Pain and Suffering
Pennsylvania law allows injury victims to pursue compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, trauma, and disruption to daily life. Victims of drunk driving accidents often experience significant emotional trauma due to the nature of the collision.
Punitive Damages
In certain situations, Pennsylvania law may allow punitive damages when the driver’s conduct at the time of the crash demonstrates a reckless disregard for others’ safety. These damages are not commonly awarded, but drunk driving behavior can sometimes support a claim for punitive damages because of the extreme danger and recklessness involved.
How Are Drunk Driving Accidents Investigated?
DUI injury cases often involve extensive investigation beyond simply reviewing a standard crash report. Important evidence our team may gather includes:
- Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test results
- Police body camera or dash camera footage
- Field sobriety testing
- Witness testimony
- Bar receipts and surveillance footage
- Accident reconstruction evidence
- Cell phone and vehicle data
Because much of this evidence can disappear quickly, early investigation is often critical.
What If the Driver Was Uninsured or Underinsured?
Unfortunately, many drunk drivers carry limited insurance coverage. In these situations, finding additional sources of insurance coverage and other compensation becomes extremely important. We’ll look into other sources of coverage for you, including:
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage
- Dram shop liability claims
- Employer liability if the driver was working
- Other third-party claims
Identifying all available insurance coverage is often a major part of drunk driving accident injury litigation.
How Our Team Helps After a DUI Accident
Drunk driving accident cases often involve overlapping criminal investigations, insurance disputes, and extensive evidence gathering. Our personal injury attorneys help clients by:
- Investigating the crash thoroughly
- Obtaining police and criminal court records
- Preserving evidence from bars and businesses
- Reviewing insurance coverage and policy limits
- Calculating long-term damages and future losses
- Communicating and negotiating with insurance companies
- Preparing cases for litigation, if necessary
When you partner with The Slocum Firm, you work directly with our attorneys throughout the process. You will never be shuffled to a paralegal or case manager who is unfamiliar with your situation. Our clients are treated like family, never like case numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scranton Drunk Driving Accident Cases
How long do I have to file a DUI injury lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
In most situations, the Pennsylvania statute of limitations gives injury victims two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. However, this time frame may vary depending on the facts of your case, so it’s best to talk to our team to fully understand the deadlines that apply to your claim.
Can BAC results be used in my injury case?
Yes. Blood alcohol concentration results and other evidence from the criminal investigation may help establish negligence in the civil case.
What if the driver entered the ARD program?
ARD is not technically a conviction, but participation in the program may still become relevant evidence depending on the circumstances of your civil case.
Are punitive damages available in all DUI accident cases?
No. Punitive damages are not commonly awarded, and they depend on the specific facts and level of reckless conduct involved.
What if my loved one died in a drunk driving crash?
Families may be able to pursue wrongful death and survival action claims under Pennsylvania law. Our Scranton wrongful death lawyers can explain how these cases work during a free consultation.
Do I have to wait for the DUI criminal case to end before filing my injury claim?
No. Civil injury claims and criminal DUI proceedings can proceed at the same time. In most cases, it is important to begin investigating your injury claim immediately while evidence is still available.
What if the drunk driver was not convicted?
You may still have a valid civil injury claim. Civil cases require a different burden of proof than criminal prosecutions, which means injury compensation may still be available even without a criminal conviction.
Can I sue the bar that served the drunk driver?
Possibly. Pennsylvania dram shop laws may allow claims against establishments that served alcohol to someone who was visibly intoxicated before the crash.
Contact Our Scranton Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Today
A drunk driving accident can leave you facing serious injuries, financial stress, emotional trauma, and uncertainty about your future. You should not have to deal with insurance companies and legal complications on your own while trying to recover.
Call The Slocum Firm today to speak directly with our Scranton drunk driving accident attorneys. We are available 24/7, and you will never pay legal fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Since 2009, our attorneys have helped injured people throughout Pennsylvania recover millions of dollars while maintaining a 95% recovery rate. When you contact our team, you will speak directly with an attorney who can explain your rights, answer your questions, and help you understand your next steps.
If you were injured in a drunk driving accident in Scranton or anywhere in Pennsylvania, contact The Slocum Firm today at (570) 209-7376 for a free consultation.
