Every year, thousands of individuals are seriously injured or fatally killed in DUI incidents in the state of California. When these needless incidents occur, the effects of the injuries on everyone involved can be devastating. These injuries not only cause an emotional strain on your family, they also threaten your ability to earn an income and create added financial strains from medical expenses. You or your loved one deserve relief for injuries suffered. The attorneys at SANFORD A. KASSEL, A Professional Law Corporation, can help you obtain relief. To speak with an experienced attorney, contact us to schedule your risk-free initial consultation today.
Criminal vs Civil Proceedings
After a DUI, families often want to seek justice. They want the individual who caused the accident to be held accountable through criminal proceedings. Criminal proceedings are meant to punish an individual for wrongdoing. While criminal proceedings serve important purposes, and in most cases ensure the safety of your loved one and the general public by keeping the responsible party off the road, there are other aspects that can allow your loved one to seek justice. Civil proceedings are another way to hold the responsible parties accountable and obtain financial relief.
Filing a personal injury action is way to obtain relief through civil proceedings. In most cases, civil proceedings are not meant to punish the responsible parties. Instead, civil proceedings are intended to compensate the victim of an accident or incident in such a way that will put them in a position that they were in prior to the accident. This occurs by issuing an award of monetary compensation for the injuries sustained.
Obtaining Relief
After successfully proving liability, a victim can obtain several different types of damages for his or her injuries. The extent of damages a victim sustains will determine the amount of relief for which he or she is eligible. There are several types of claims for which victims seek relief, including:
- Vehicle expenses: In DUI incidents, vehicles often sustain extensive damage. If the vehicle is not a total loss, you will be able to obtain the amount of repairs. Otherwise, you will be able to obtain the value of the vehicle.
- Lost wages: A personal injury action will also be able to obtain relief for missed time at work. Lost wages are an important part of personal injury cases because DUI incidents often cause debilitating injuries that result in significant wage loss.
- Medical expenses: Medical expenses quickly add up when any type of injury occurs. When the injuries are significant, medical expenses can add up to thousands of dollars. These expenses will factor into the total award received.
Contact SANFORD A. KASSEL, A Professional Law Corporation
SANFORD A. KASSEL, A Professional Law Corporation is an experienced law firm located in San Bernardino, California. Our attorneys practice personal injury, medical malpractice, and employment law. If you or someone you know is in need of a personal injury attorney after being injured in a motor vehicle accident, we will be happy to meet with you for an initial consultation. We assist clients in San Bernardino, Riverside, Inland Empire, and Southern California.
