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Jan 07, 2009
DUI Injuries & Fatalities in Kentucky
Kentucky personal injury attorney Daryl T. Dixon guides his clients through the legal aftermath of injuries caused by drunk driving. While the criminal process is fairly straightforward when it comes to punishing drunk drivers, pursuing financial damages against a drunk driver, the insurer(s), and other negligent parties liable for an injury sustained in an accident can quickly become complex.
Daryl T. Dixon is known for his ability to zero in on the liable parties in drunk driving cases and cut through the delay and double crossing tactics that often confront the injured and their families when they seek the compensation they’re due. Families in McCracken, Calloway, Graves, Henry, Weakley and the many other counties of western Kentucky can vouch for Daryl’s responsive service and outstanding legal skills on their behalf.
Daryl believes that personal responsibility is fundamental to living in a safe and peaceful society, and that this responsibility begins with respecting and obeying laws in place to protect everyone’s safety. As the statistics show, too many threats to our safety already exist on our roads and highways, and anyone still stupid enough to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs must be punished to the fullest extent of the law – both criminally and civilly.
A Culture of Responsible Drinkers
From the beginnings of our nation’s history, alcohol has played a pivotal role in shaping its laws and rules of governance. In 1794, the Whiskey Rebellion provided an early opportunity to test the relations between state powers and the nascent federal government. In the early 20th century, temperance leagues across the country lobbied to ban alcohol sale and consumption in the U.S. In 1919, Congress complied through an amendment to the Constitution, and this soon resulted in a “black market” culture for drinkers, spawning the first major wave of organized crime in the United States. In 1933, the 18th amendment was repealed, largely because it had created more trouble than it was worth.
Today, the pendulum of alcohol has swung back to open social acceptance. In fact, if we believe half of what we see in commercials, a bottle of beer has evolved into an object of worship, the crowning symbol of a job well done (or at least done), an essential companion piece to good times with friends and loved ones, and (in some cases) worth risking our jobs, relationships and reputations to possess. While these commercials are based on a fantasy world of extremes, there is also a central truth in them that no one argues with: Americans like their beer.
Liking beer and other forms of alcohol is fine. But it is vital to ensure that people who drink do so responsibly. Drinking alcohol is an enjoyable pastime, but the resulting diminished mental capacity, shortened attention span and lack of physical coordination all undercut the factors necessary to being an alert and responsible driver. Those who do choose to drive under the influence are committing an act of negligence that is simply not acceptable.
But despite heightened public disapproval of drunk driving in recent decades, and increasingly tougher laws to punish those who commit it, drunk driving remains a major cause of injuries and fatalities in the United States. In 2003, more than 17,000 Americans lost their lives in alcohol-related accidents, representing about 40 per cent of all roadway fatalities. Of the roughly three million Americans who suffer injuries each year as a result of traffic accidents, about one in six involve driver intoxication. Car accidents are the cause of the most severe injuries, such as brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and other types of internal injuries.
Binge Drinkers: The Root Cause of the DUI Problem
Studies by MADD and other consumer safety groups show that their efforts have worked well to curb drunk driving among casual drinkers. However, hardcore drinkers with chemical dependencies still don’t heed society’s call to put an end to drunk driving. Alcoholics who spend most of their waking hours under the influence reach a certain comfort level in which they believe they have a “higher tolerance” for alcohol than other people, and can perform ordinary tasks – such as driving – while under the influence.
Whenever a drunk driving accident resulting in injury occurs, it is important to consult with an attorney who can ask the right questions and determine who is legally responsible for the damage done. In many cases, there can be more than one liable party against which the injured person can pursue restitution. Daryl Dixon is experienced in pursuing a variety of strategies to ensure his clients obtain the compensation they deserve, including:
Lawsuits against Drunk Drivers
While Kentucky’s criminal laws punish drunk drivers for their actions, they don’t help those who have been injured or the survivors of those who have been killed recover from the financial setbacks they’ve incurred through medical bills, therapy, loss of income and other consequences of a violent drunk driving accident.
In Kentucky, Daryl Dixon has prosecuted many lawsuits through Kentucky’s civil court system against individuals who have hurt or killed others through the negligent act of drunk driving. Daryl brings the tenacity and determination needed in these often difficult cases, ensuring that his clients have a chance to take back some of what was taken from them in the form of a life-altering injury.
Lawsuits against Insurers of Drunk Drivers
Insurance companies have tremendous influence over legislatures on the state and federal levels, but this power is usually exercised for their own benefit, and not for the public good. Daryl Dixon believes that insurance companies have the political and financial means to do more to fight drunk driving, identify high risk drivers, and bring about a substantial reduction in the number of drunk driving injuries and fatalities each year.
Insurance companies can’t be compelled to act for the greater good, but they can be forced to honor the financial needs of those injured by the drivers they insure. When alcohol or drugs are involved in an injury causing car accident, liability is much easier to prove under Kentucky law, and (depending on the extent of the injury) can lead to much higher compensation for the victim. Daryl Dixon is highly skilled in negotiating highly favorable settlements for his clients, and has has negotiated fair and expedient settlements with insurance companies like the Kentucky Farm Bureau, State Farm, Progressive, All State, Grange and other insurers that service Kentucky drivers.
Lawsuits against Bars and Social Hosts
In Kentucky, it is against the law to serve alcohol to someone who is visibly intoxicated. When bartenders or servers provide alcohol to intoxicated drivers, and an alcohol-related car accident causing serious injury or death results, their establishment is exposed to liability for the accident. Daryl T. Dixon has initiated several lawsuits against bars and restaurants responsible for DUI accidents.
Frequent Questions for DUI Injuries & Fatalities in Kentucky:
Quick Contact
Daryl T. Dixon
535 Broadway St.
Paducah, KY 42002-1762
Phone: 270-442-3246
Fax: 270-442-1516
