Drunk driving crashes often leave people dealing with serious medical care and endless insurance paperwork. If you were hit by a drunk driver in Milwaukee, you have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries and other losses. A DUI accident lawyer in Milwaukee can help you hold the responsible parties accountable so you can focus on healing.
LawtonCates helps victims of drunk driving accidents file personal injury claims to demand fair compensation from insurers, negligent drivers, and other responsible parties. There’s no need to go through the process on your own. Our lawyers can review your case and explain your options after a DUI-related crash. Call LawtonCates today for your free, no-obligation consultation to find out how we can help.
Understanding DUI Accidents in Wisconsin
Although “DUI” is a common term for drunk driving, Wisconsin calls it “operating while intoxicated,” or OWI. It’s illegal to operate a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both. Impaired drivers react slowly and make reckless decisions, which can lead to serious injury and property damage.
Wisconsin has a high number of alcohol-related crashes every year, especially in urban areas like Milwaukee. However, when an OWI crash happens, the consequences usually affect people who did nothing wrong. That’s why it’s so important to file a claim with the help of an experienced OWI lawyer from LawtonCates.
Wisconsin DUI and Drunk Driving Laws
Wisconsin has clear laws about drunk or impaired driving, which are the following:
- Most drivers can’t legally drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher.
- Commercial drivers have an even lower limit.
- Drivers under 21 are subject to a “zero tolerance” standard.
- Driving while impaired by drugs (including prescription medications that affect your ability to drive safely) is also illegal.
These drunk driving laws will be a key part of your personal injury case. When a driver violates drunk driving laws, that shows they were acting negligently. This is called “negligence per se.” In other words, if the driver who hit you was arrested or cited for OWI, that information will significantly strengthen your civil claim.
Even if the other driver’s criminal case doesn’t lead to a conviction, you can still pursue compensation. Civil claims have a much lower standard of proof than criminal cases. Any evidence your attorney can recover to prove the driver was impaired can establish their liability. Unlike criminal cases, a civil case isn’t about punishment; rather, it’s about recovering financial compensation for what you’ve been through.
Common Causes of DUI-Related Accidents
Alcohol and drugs are dangerous because they affect a driver’s coordination and reaction time. DUI-related accidents often involve the following:
- Speeding
- Drifting between lanes
- Failing to notice traffic signals
- Following too closely
- Misjudging turns and intersections
OWI accidents can happen any time, not just late at night. When a driver chooses to get behind the wheel while they’re impaired, it creates a much higher risk of harm for everyone on the road.
Injuries Commonly Caused by DUI Accidents
Drunk driving crashes often result in serious injury or death. Impaired drivers might not brake in time or react at all, which means the impact can be sudden and severe; you might not even see them coming. Common injuries include the following:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Head injuries, including TBIs
- Spinal cord and back injuries
- Paralysis
- Soft tissue injuries like whiplash or torn ligaments
- Internal organ damage
- Burns and cuts
Some injuries heal with time. Others are permanent. You may need ongoing medical care, physical therapy, and surgery. Emotional trauma is also common, particularly after a violent or unexpected crash.
At LawtonCates, our DUI accident lawyers in Milwaukee focus on how your injuries affect your daily life. That includes your ability to work and enjoy regular activities, as well as your future medical and therapy needs.
Who Is Liable in a Milwaukee DUI Accident Case?
Generally, the impaired driver is the primary party responsible for an OWI accident. However, other parties may also share responsibility, though that depends on the specific facts of your case.
In some cases, a bar or restaurant may be liable. Dram shop liability may apply if the business continues to serve alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person who then goes on to cause a crash. Similarly, an employer may be partially responsible if the driver was working at the time of the accident.
Wisconsin follows a comparative negligence system, which means multiple parties can be at fault, even you. However, you can recover damages (minus your percentage of fault) if you were less than 51 percent at fault.
Compensation Available to DUI Accident Victims
You can pursue compensation for the full range of losses you’ve experienced. This might include economic damages such as the following:
- Medical bills, including emergency care and follow-up treatment
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs
- Lost wages, if you had to miss work
- Reduced earning capacity, if your injuries affect whether you can work in the future
You can also seek non-economic damages. These are “intangible” expenses that don’t necessarily come with a receipt. They include emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life. In rare OWI cases, punitive damages may be available. This usually only happens when the driver’s behavior shows an extreme, deliberate disregard for safety.
Why Choose LawtonCates for a DUI Accident Case?
LawtonCates has over six decades of experience handling serious personal injury cases in Wisconsin, including OWI accidents. Our attorneys know how the state’s drunk driving laws work together with civil injury claims and, more importantly, how insurers approach these cases. When you hire us, you’ll work with lawyers who prepare every case thoroughly and push back against low settlement offers.
Our lawyers explain your options in plain language. If you have a case, we’ll keep you informed of each development. We focus on building strong drunk driving accident claims supported by as much evidence as possible, including expert opinions when necessary.
What to Do After a DUI Accident in Milwaukee
Your health should always be the priority after an accident. Start with the basics, which are the following:
- Get medical help as soon as possible, even if you don’t think you were seriously injured.
- Follow your doctor’s recommendations exactly.
- Keep copies of all medical records, bills, and any paperwork.
- Ask for a copy of the police accident report.
It’s also important to be careful about what you say after the crash. Insurance companies often look for ways to limit what they have to pay, so you should do the following:
- Don’t give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company without guidance from an OWI/DUI crash injury lawyer in Milwaukee.
- Save any photos and videos of the vehicle damage and scene.
- Give your lawyer any witness information and any messages or letters related to the accident.
Contact Our Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers for Help
The attorneys at LawtonCates represent people hurt in OWI accidents throughout Milwaukee and the surrounding areas. Reach out today for your free, fully confidential consultation.