New Jersey Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Perth Amboy, NJ, Pursuing Accountability for Alcohol-Related Crash Injuries

One of the most unfair aspects of a drunk driving accident is how preventable these situations are. You’re facing serious injuries, lost income, and emotional trauma, all because another driver made the reckless decision to drive after drinking. With the help of a New Jersey drunk driving accident lawyer, it’s possible to hold the motorist accountable for the harm they caused you.

At CourtLaw Injury Lawyers, we understand not only how irresponsible driving under the influence is, but also how to pursue full and fair compensation from the drunk driver and any other liable parties. We represent individuals and families across New Jersey who have been injured in alcohol-related crashes.

Contact our car accident injury firm today for a free consultation and legal assistance at no upfront cost. While you focus on healing, our team focuses on building strong civil injury claims that pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, long-term care needs, and the real-life impact of what happened.

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The First 30–90 Days After a Drunk Driving Crash Aren’t Easy, But We’re Here to Help

Drunk driving accidents often involve severe injuries. In the weeks after the crash, you may be dealing with:

• Emergency treatment
• Follow-up care
• Physical therapy
• Missed work
• Insurance paperwork
• Emotional distress

You may also feel anger or frustration knowing the crash could have been prevented.

Those emotions are valid, and they’re a powerful motivation for seeking accountability. But your legal case must remain disciplined and evidence-based.

You do not have to manage this process alone. At CourtLaw Injury Lawyers, a drunk driving accident attorney in Perth Amboy, NJ, will focus on documenting your injuries, tracking your treatment, and preserving evidence that supports your civil claim.

Why Drunk Driving Cases Are Different From Other Car Accidents

All motor vehicle accidents involve negligence. But drunk driving crashes often involve reckless or unlawful conduct, which changes how the case may be investigated and proven.

In a typical car accident case, fault may depend on:

• Speed
• Failure to yield
• Distracted driving
• Traffic signal violations

In a drunk driving accident, additional evidence may include:

• Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test results
• Field sobriety test performance
• Arrest reports
• Criminal charges
• Witness statements about intoxication
• Surveillance or dashcam footage

These additional layers can strengthen a civil injury claim, but they can also create legal and procedural complexities. As your New Jersey drunk driving accident lawyer, we’ll handle the demands of the claims process, documenting your injuries and building your case.

Insurance Company Tactics in Drunk Driving Accident Claims

Many people assume that if a driver was drunk, the insurance company will immediately accept responsibility.

In reality, in a drunk driving accident, insurers may still:

• Dispute the severity of injuries
• Argue comparative negligence
• Claim pre-existing conditions
• Delay settlement discussions
• Attempt to minimize long-term impact

Even in alcohol-related crashes, insurance companies are focused on limiting payouts. Strong documentation and structured negotiation are essential, and that’s where a New Jersey drunk driving accident lawyer at our personal injury firm shines.

Why Drunk Driving Cases Can Still Turn Into Insurance Fights

It can feel shocking to learn that even after a drunk driving crash, insurance companies may still try to avoid paying full value. Many injured victims assume that intoxication makes the case “open and shut.” Unfortunately, insurers often treat drunk driving claims as high-risk and high-cost, which means they may work harder to control the outcome.

Insurance companies may attempt to:

• Shift blame by arguing you contributed to the crash
• Downplay injuries by calling them “soft tissue”
• Challenge the necessity of follow-up treatment
• Push for a fast settlement before long-term symptoms emerge
• Use gaps in medical care to argue you “must be better”

In serious injury cases, insurers may also dispute future damages, like long-term rehabilitation needs, reduced earning capacity, or permanent limitations. They may argue that you will “recover fully” even when your doctors say otherwise.

This is where strong preparation matters. A well-supported claim is not just about proving the other driver was drunk. It is about proving what the drunk driver’s dangerous decision has cost you. You deserve a legal team that treats your case with discipline, builds it carefully, and does not allow insurers to control the narrative.

Civil Claims vs. Criminal DUI Charges: Why You Need to File a Claim Even if the Drunk Driver Has Been Charged

If the driver was arrested, does that mean you will automatically win your case? The drunk driver may (and should) face consequences for their actions, but what many accident victims don’t realize is that a claim for compensation is a separate legal matter. Filing a claim is critical for attaining the compensation you deserve.

In New Jersey, DUI (DWI) charges are prosecuted in municipal court as quasi-criminal motor vehicle offenses. These proceedings focus on penalties such as license suspension, fines, and other consequences for the impaired driver.

Your personal injury claim, however, is a separate civil matter focused on compensating you for the harm you suffered.

A DUI conviction can support your civil case, but it is not required. Your civil case can proceed even if criminal charges are reduced or dismissed. It’s also important to know that the burden of proof is different in criminal court as compared to civil court.

Even if the criminal case takes up some of your time, your civil claim should not be neglected. Evidence must still be preserved and damages properly documented, but a drunk driving accident attorney in Perth Amboy, NJ, can take the lead on these critical responsibilities so they do not add to your stress.

What if the Drunk Driver’s Criminal Case Is Still Pending?

It’s very common for injured victims to feel stuck waiting for the criminal DUI case to “finish” before taking action. You may be hearing updates about court dates, plea offers, or license suspension issues and wondering whether any of that affects your right to pursue compensation.

In most cases, you do not need to wait for the criminal case to end before starting a personal injury claim. In fact, waiting can sometimes make things harder.

If you delay taking civil legal action:

• Evidence may become more difficult to obtain.
• Witnesses may be harder to locate.
• Medical documentation can become less clear if treatment gaps occur.

Even if the drunk driver ultimately pleads guilty, your civil claim still requires careful proof of damages, including the cost of your medical care, lost income, and the ways the injury has changed your daily life.

A criminal conviction can be helpful, but it does not automatically establish the full value of your losses.

Starting your claim early allows your New Jersey drunk driving accident lawyer to preserve evidence, communicate with insurers, and keep your claim moving forward while the criminal process unfolds in the background.

Proving Intoxication in Your Civil Injury Claim

In some cases, intoxication is obvious and documented. In others, the situation may be less clear.

Your civil claim may rely on evidence such as:

• Police reports
• Toxicology results
• Officer observations
• Admissions by the driver
• Witness accounts
• Video footage
• Accident reconstruction analysis

In some cases, insurers may attempt to argue that alcohol did not cause the crash, even when the driver was over the legal limit. That is why careful case preparation matters.

Dram Shop Liability in New Jersey: When a Bar or Restaurant May Share Responsibility

Under New Jersey’s dram shop laws, alcohol-serving establishments may be held liable in certain circumstances if they:

• Served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person, or
• Served alcohol to a minor who then caused injury

These claims are separate from the claim against the drunk driver.

Dram shop cases require additional investigation, including:

• Identifying where alcohol was served
• Reviewing receipts or surveillance
• Interviewing witnesses
• Determining visible intoxication

Not every drunk driving accident involves dram shop liability. But when it applies, it can significantly impact the available sources of compensation. A drunk driving accident attorney in Perth Amboy, NJ, will carefully evaluate all possible avenues to determine if a bar, restaurant, club, or another type of establishment could be held liable for the injuries you sustained in the crash.

Dram Shop Claims Require Fast Action and the Right Evidence

Dram shop cases can be powerful, but they are also evidence-heavy. Unlike a typical personal injury claim, proving dram shop liability often requires showing not only where the driver was served alcohol, but also whether the driver showed signs of visible intoxication at the time.

That proof may come from sources such as:

• Surveillance video from a bar or restaurant
• Receipts and payment records
• Witness statements from patrons or employees
• Social media posts or check-ins
• Police investigation details and timelines

This type of evidence may not be preserved for long. Surveillance footage can be overwritten, receipts can be difficult to obtain, and witnesses may move on quickly.

Dram shop claims also involve a different defendant. Often, this is a business with its own insurer and legal team. That means these cases can become more complex, but they also potentially provide additional coverage that can help make you financially whole when injuries are severe.

If you suspect the drunk driver had been drinking at a bar, restaurant, or event before the crash, it is worth discussing that possibility early. You should not have to carry the burden of proving where alcohol came from. A New Jersey drunk driving accident lawyer can conduct a thorough legal investigation to uncover what happened and whether a dram shop claim may apply.

What Happens if the Drunk Driver Is Uninsured or Underinsured?

In some drunk driving cases, the at-fault driver may carry minimal insurance, or none at all.

This raises additional issues such as:

• Uninsured motorist (UM) claims
• Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage
• Stacking policies where applicable

Your own insurance policy may play a role, even though you were not at fault.

These cases require careful review of all available coverage sources to prevent gaps in recovery. With experience handling uninsured accidents, our team at CourtLaw Injury Lawyers can explore all options that may be available to you.

Punitive Damages in Drunk Driving Injury Cases

In some cases involving especially reckless conduct, punitive damages may be available under New Jersey law.

Punitive damages are not awarded automatically. They require proof that the defendant’s conduct was especially egregious or showed a willful disregard for safety.

These claims involve a higher evidentiary threshold and careful legal strategy.

When appropriate, pursuing punitive damages may send a message about accountability while increasing your potential recovery.

Injuries Commonly Seen in Drunk Driving Accidents

Because intoxicated drivers may speed, ignore signals, or drive erratically, alcohol-related crashes often involve high-impact collisions.

Common injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Multiple fractures and broken bones
• Internal injuries
• Severe soft tissue trauma
• Permanent disability

Some victims face long-term rehabilitation, cognitive challenges, or life-altering limitations.

Your claim should reflect not only immediate medical bills but also long-term care needs and changes to your daily life.

Why Choose CourtLaw Injury Lawyers for a Drunk Driving Accident Case?

Drunk driving cases require careful handling, as well as thorough documentation and disciplined negotiation. At CourtLaw Injury Lawyers, we stand up for the injured and hold drunk drivers accountable through dedicated advocacy.

A Background in Serious Motor Vehicle Injury Claims

Our team handles complex motor vehicle accident cases throughout New Jersey, including alcohol-related collisions that involve significant injuries. We routinely assist in matters involving highway accidents, truck accidents (including drunk truck accidents), motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, Uber accidents, and Lyft accidents.

A Thorough, Evidence-Based Practice

We build cases around documented facts, including police reports, medical records, and financial impact, while anticipating insurer tactics.

Personalized Communication

You will not feel like just a file number. We provide consistent updates and clear explanations so you understand what is going on at each stage of your case.

A Record of Results

With more than $100 million recovered for injured clients and over 100 years of combined legal experience, our firm focuses on securing fair compensation grounded in careful preparation.

Free Phone or Email Consultation

If you need a drunk driving accident attorney in Perth Amboy, NJ, we offer free consultations by phone or email so you can explore your options without financial pressure.

Contact a New Jersey Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer at CourtLaw Injury Lawyers Today for a Free Case Review

If you were injured by a drunk driver, you deserve justice and compensation that reflects the full scope of your losses.

At CourtLaw Injury Lawyers, we’re ready to review your case, explain your legal options, and help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

Contact us today to schedule your free phone or email consultation.