Article Noodle

We often read and hear about road accidents that are a result of drunk driving. If, owing to misfortune, you were to find yourself in one such accident some day, it would be wise to immediately hire the services of Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers. That’s because you would need to deal with several legal, insurance-related and medical issues that a layman might find difficult to handle. Statistics show that an increasing number of people are succumbing to accidents that are a result of drunk driving.

Legally speaking, if people over the age of 21years are found driving a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration level that is more than 0.08%, it is considered to be a case of drunk driving. Additionally, in Pennsylvania, if a driver is less than 21 years of age and is driving a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration level that is more than 0.02%, he/she can be charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

Now that you are familiar with what qualifies as drunk driving, let’s take a look at some of the other highlights of a case associated with such an offence:

• Figures show that Pennsylvania recorded 496 cases of drunk driving fatalities in 2008. In fact, dunk driving comprised 34% of all vehicle accident-related fatalities in Pennsylvania alone.


• Hiring the services of reputed Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers is advisable because there are several issues relating to accidents that are a result of drunk driving. In such a case, it is best to hire lawyers who have ample experience in defending such cases. This would give the lawyers a deep understanding of all the complications related to your case.


• If, by misfortune, you or your family member is a victim of a drunk driving case, you can recover damages from the drunk driver. These damages include medical bills, pain and trauma, damage to vehicle or property, wrongful death, lost wages and punitive damages.


• Additionally, in Pennsylvania, the person who served alcohol to the drunk driver can also be held in certain situations. This comes under the Pennsylvania Dram Shop Statute or Special Host Law. Always remember to hire a lawyer who has additional experience in the capacity of a Pennsylvania criminal lawyer. This will help you build a strong case.


• A Pennsylvania criminal lawyer is bound to have extensive experience relating to the legal system, medical and insurance issues. This will not only help you recover damages as early as possible, but help you get optimum damages.