Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys in Morehead City, North Carolina

Drunk drivers have no place on the road. If someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol has hit your vehicle or if you are a passenger injured while riding with a drunk driver, it is time to get help from an auto accident insurance lawyer from Murrelle, Hughes & Majstoravich, P.A.

Since 1981, our team has provided personal injury counsel for the people of Morehead City and the surrounding metro area. Our lawyers work collaboratively to give your case their maximum experience, knowledge and attention.

Drunk Driving Accident Claims: What To Know

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that around one-third of fatal car accidents involve an intoxicated driver. The North Carolina justice system must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone drove with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher to convict them.

In a civil personal injury claim, the standard is not as high. You must only demonstrate that the drunk driver’s actions caused your injuries, resulting in damages, to recover compensation.

What Compensation Can You Recover In North Carolina Drunk Driving Cases?

Victims of drunk driving accidents face substantial physical, emotional and financial hardships requiring comprehensive compensation. Available damages include:

• Economic damages covering tangible losses: Medical expenses represent the most significant economic damages in drunk driving cases. Compensation includes emergency room treatment, hospitalization costs, surgical procedures, prescription medications, physical therapy, rehabilitation services and future medical care needs. Lost wages recover income you could not earn during your recovery period, while lost earning capacity refers to reduced future earnings when injuries prevent you from returning to previous employment or advancing in your career. Property damage compensation covers vehicle repair or replacement costs plus damage to personal belongings.

• Noneconomic damages addressing intangible harm: Pain and suffering compensation recognizes the physical discomfort and emotional distress drunk driving injuries cause. These damages account for ongoing chronic pain, disability adjustments, loss of enjoyment in activities you previously loved and diminished quality of life. Emotional distress damages address anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress and psychological trauma resulting from the accident. Loss of consortium claims compensate spouses for lost companionship, affection and marital relations when injuries affect intimate relationships.

• Punitive damages punishing egregious conduct: North Carolina permits punitive damages in drunk driving cases when intoxicated operation demonstrates willful or wanton disregard for others’ safety. Unlike compensatory damages, which reimburse actual losses, punitive damages punish defendants and deter similar future conduct. Courts award these additional damages beyond economic and noneconomic compensation, potentially increasing total recovery substantially.

A skilled attorney can pursue all these damage categories to provide comprehensive compensation addressing every aspect of harm that drunk driving accidents cause.

How Does North Carolina’s Contributory Negligence Law Impact Your Drunk Driving Claim?

North Carolina follows one of the nation’s harshest negligence standards, applying pure contributory negligence rules that completely bar recovery if you bear any fault for the accident. Under this doctrine, even minimal negligence on your part, such as speeding slightly or failing to signal, prevents recovering any compensation regardless of how intoxicated or reckless the other driver was.

This strict standard makes building airtight cases demonstrating zero victim fault absolutely critical. Insurance companies aggressively investigate, claiming you contributed to accidents through distraction, traffic violations or defensive driving failures. Exceptions exist when defendants’ gross negligence or willful misconduct caused accidents, and the last clear chance doctrine permits recovery if drunk drivers had the final opportunity to avoid collisions despite your earlier negligence.

Searching For Solutions Without Entering An Intimidating Courtroom

Our car accident attorneys understand that you might not want to file a lawsuit against a drunk driver nor spend hours in a trial. This individual might also be your friend or neighbor. We understand. Our lawyers almost always achieve positive solutions – including high settlements outside of court – without litigating.

Get Your First Personal Injury Consultation At No Cost

Murrelle, Hughes & Majstoravich, P.A., has the team if head-on collision attorneys and car accident claim lawyers to help you after a North Carolina drunk driving accident. Please schedule your free initial personal injury consultation by calling or by using our online contact form. We do not charge any fees unless we recover compensation for you. If we do, we charge a percentage that is much lower than that of our competitors.