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Do I Need a Lawyer if I Am Hit By a Drunk Driver in Los Angeles?

Posted on September 26, 2025 in Car Accidents

Car accident attorneys can be beneficial during most claims, but it is especially important to contact one for assistance in the aftermath of a drunk driving crash. Drunk driving accidents in Los Angeles can involve unique issues and complex legal elements. An award-winning personal injury attorney in Los Angeles can make it easier to achieve justice and maximum financial compensation. 

Your Injuries Are Catastrophic (Or a Loved One Died)

Motor vehicle accidents involving driver intoxication are often catastrophic, meaning they leave victims with severe, permanent and life-changing injuries. Examples include traumatic brain damage, spinal cord injuries, paralysis and amputations. Sadly, many drunk driving accidents are also fatal and result in cases of wrongful death.

If a drunk driver inflicted life-altering injuries on you or took a loved one’s life, hiring an attorney may be necessary to achieve the case results you need for significant losses. Your claim may be worth more in medical bills or pain and suffering than what a car insurance company is offering you. An attorney can take over settlement negotiations with an insurer on your behalf to fight for a fair outcome.

You Wish to Hold an Alcohol Vendor Liable

In California, the drunk driver may not be the only party you can hold accountable for an accident. Under the state’s dram shop laws, it may also be possible to seek financial benefits from a bar, restaurant, alcohol vendor or social host. These cases often require attorneys, as it can be difficult to hold a dram shop liable under California’s very limited liability laws.

The Insurance Company Is Not Cooperating

Insurance companies are always looking out for their own best interests. They do not want to maximize insurance claim payouts, as this will cost them more money. They may try many tactics to take advantage of a claimant, including downplaying the victim’s injuries, underestimating the true value of the case and rejecting a valid claim.

Hiring an attorney specialized in car crash lawsuits in Los Angeles is the most effective way to ensure that an insurance company treats you fairly. An attorney will handle communications and settlement negotiations with an insurance company on your behalf. Your lawyer will accurately evaluate the worth of your drunk driving accident claim and use aggressive legal strategies to seek what you are owed.

Your Case Needs to Go to Court

Most automobile accident cases in California achieve settlements and do not have to proceed to the next stage of the legal process, which is a car accident trial. However, if you have a complicated claim or the insurance company is not offering a reasonable payout, you may need to go to court to hold a drunk driver or a third party accountable. 

In this situation, contact an attorney to represent you in court before a judge and jury. You do not want to take on the complicated court process alone. An attorney can collect evidence and attend hearings on your behalf, as well as hire qualified subject-matter experts to clarify facts to a jury. 

Accident due to an Intoxicated Driver in Los Angeles?

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How Much Does a DUI Accident Lawyer Cost in Los Angeles?

At Rose, Klein & Marias, LLP, our Los Angeles drunk driving accident lawyers are free of chrage unless we win your case. We accept personal injury claims on a contingency fee basis, with $0 in fees charged upfront. You will only pay us if we successfully recover financial compensation for your losses in the form of a settlement or jury verdict. If we do win your case, we will take our fee out of the amount won on your behalf – never out of your pocket.