Los Angeles Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
Los Angeles Drunk Driving Accident Attorney
Car accidents are a leading cause of serious injuries and accidental deaths in Los Angeles every year, and these incidents occur for many reasons. While most car accidents reported are the result of negligence, or failure to use reasonable precautions behind the wheel, others occur due to intentional misconduct. The most common example of this is driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs.
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Legal Representation for Victims of Drunk Driving Accidents in Los Angeles, CA
DUI is a serious criminal offense, and the penalties for conviction can vary based on the severity of the offense and the defendant’s criminal history. Penalties for DUI can include fines, loss of driving privileges, mandatory drug and alcohol education courses, community service, and even jail time. These penalties will increase automatically if the defendant has prior DUI convictions on their record or if they caused an accident that resulted in bodily injury or death.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a drunk driving accident, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages just as you would after any other vehicle accident in Los Angeles. However, your damages are likely to be more severe than they would in most typical accidents; drunk driving accidents tend to cause more serious injuries and more extensive property damage. Additionally, the illegal nature of the defendant’s actions can influence your recovery efforts in several ways. It is imperative that you secure legal counsel you can trust as soon as possible after your accident to have the greatest chance of maximizing your total compensation.
The attorneys at Easton & Easton have years of experience handling all types of personal injury cases in Los Angeles, including those arising from illegal actions. We know the challenges you are likely to face in the aftermath of a drunk driving accident, and we know how to help you recover as fully as possible. The sooner you connect with our team, the more time we have to build a compelling case on your behalf.
How to Recover From Your Drunk Driving Accident in Los Angeles
The typical recovery process following a vehicle accident is filing an auto insurance claim followed by a personal injury claim when insurance cannot fully repay your losses. You will likely follow this same progression in the aftermath of a drunk driving accident, but the DUI case against the at-fault driver could influence your recovery efforts in various ways. While you proceed with your civil action against them, the state will be prosecuting a criminal case for their DUI violation.
An experienced Los Angeles drunk driving accident attorney can help with the auto insurance claim filing process. You must prove that the defendant directly caused the accident and submit your claim as soon as possible to succeed with the claim. Your attorney can help gather any evidence you may need to firmly prove the defendant caused your accident, such as the police report for the incidents and testimony from witnesses who saw it happen. Your claim should include a complete list of the damages you suffered and the amount of compensation you are seeking. Your Los Angeles drunk driving accident attorney can resolve any issues you encounter with the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier and ensure you receive a fair settlement offer.
Once you have recovered as much compensation as possible through the insurance claim process, you can proceed with filing a personal injury claim against the defendant. This case may unfold in tandem with the criminal case filed by the state, and your attorney can advise you as to how the cases might interact.
Compensation in a Personal Injury Claim for a Drunk Driving Accident in Los Angeles
Under the state’s personal injury laws, the plaintiff has the right to seek full compensation for all economic losses they suffered because of the defendant’s actions. These economic damages are likely to include:
- Property damage, such as any vehicle repair costs that cannot be recovered through auto insurance.
- Medical expenses. You have the right to hold the defendant accountable for the cost of all medical treatment you need to achieve maximum improvement from your injuries. This includes future treatment costs if you need ongoing care to fully recover.
- Lost income. When you cannot work and earn income because of your injuries, the defendant is liable for the income you cannot earn during this recovery period. If you are permanently disabled from the accident, they are also liable for your lost future earning capacity.
Beyond economic damages, a plaintiff in Los Angeles also has the right to seek pain and suffering compensation that reflects the physical pain and psychological distress they experienced because of the defendant’s actions, and there is no limit on this aspect of recovery in a vehicle accident case. If the plaintiff suffered any permanent harm, their pain and suffering compensation is likely to amount to more than the total of their claimed economic damages.
Due to the fact that a drunk driving accident is the result of illegal misconduct, the plaintiff could receive additional compensation beyond their compensatory damages and the amount recovered for their pain and suffering. The judge handling their civil claim could award punitive damages to further punish the defendant, and the amount awarded generally depends on the overall financial status of the defendant. It is also possible for the defendant to face restitution as one of the penalties assigned upon conviction in criminal court.
Ultimately, an impaired driving accident claim can be more challenging to resolve than a standard motor vehicle accident claim. Having legal counsel that you can trust for this case will be imperative to securing the compensation you need to recover as fully as possible. The attorneys at Easton & Easton have years of experience handling difficult civil claims for clients in Los Angeles and surrounding communities, and we always aim for maximum client recovery in every case we accept. The sooner you reach out to our team, the more time we have to develop a compelling legal strategy on your behalf.
Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer FAQs
Q: How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Drunk Driving Accident?
A: If another driver injured you in a drunk driving accident, they are not only responsible for all damages they caused, but they are also going to face criminal prosecution. Their penalties may include restitution or punitive damages alongside their repayment of the losses they inflicted. Your Los Angeles drunk driving accident attorney can estimate your case’s potential value and help maximize your recovery.
Q: How Much Can I Claim in Pain and Suffering?
A: California’s personal injury laws allow a plaintiff to seek compensation for the physical pain, emotional distress, and trauma they have experienced due to a defendant’s actions. There is no limit to how much you can claim in a drunk driving accident case, and your attorney can provide guidance when it comes to determining an appropriate amount to reflect the severity of your experience.
Q: Can I Claim Compensation if I Was Partially at Fault for an Accident in Los Angeles?
A: Yes, it is possible for a plaintiff to bear partial liability for their recent accident and still recover compensation for their damages. The state enforces the pure comparative fault rule, meaning a plaintiff will have a fault percentage assigned to them if they are partially responsible for causing their personal injury. This percentage is taken from their case award as a penalty, and they keep the remainder. For example, 10% fault means losing 10% of their total case award.
Q: Why Do I Need to Hire a Los Angeles Drunk Driving Accident Attorney?
A: If you were hurt by a drunk driver, do not assume that because they are clearly at fault for the accident that it will be easy for you to recover your losses. Even if fault is clear, you could encounter various legal challenges that you will not be able to overcome on your own. Hiring legal counsel you can trust not only improves your chances of success with your claim but also increases the chance of maximizing your recovery.
Q: How Much Will It Cost to Hire a Los Angeles Drunk Driving Accident Attorney?
A: The attorneys at Easton & Easton make legal counsel accessible and affordable to those who need it most in Los Angeles with our contingency fee policy. Instead of paying upfront or ongoing legal fees, you will only pay a fee after we win your case, and the fee you pay is a percentage of the total compensation we secure on your behalf. There is no fee at all if our team is unable to secure compensation on your behalf.
The attorneys at Easton & Easton know how damaging any accident can be and the frustration that often follows a drunk driving accident in Los Angeles. You need legal counsel you can trust to navigate your recovery efforts successfully, and the right attorney on your side can make a tremendous positive difference in the quality of your final recovery. If you are ready to learn what a seasoned Los Angeles drunk driving accident attorney can do for your case, contact Easton & Easton today and schedule a consultation with our team.
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Easton & Easton has been recognized by TopVerdict.com Top 10 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement in Los Angeles for 2025, for the case Bicyclist v. Inattentive Driver — recognized more than 75 times by TopVerdict.com over the past 5 years — including fifty-eight #1 recognitions, and a recognition that arrives in the firm’s 35th anniversary year.
Easton & Easton holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau — the highest rating available. Trust is earned. We've earned it.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen anew each year since 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the "Best Law Firms" for the Southern California Metro Area.
Easton & Easton was voted #1 in 2026 (People's Choice Award). This recognition means the most to us — because it comes from the community we serve. Voted #1 in 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026 — four #1 wins, including three years in a row
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton were selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 — an invitation-only organization recognizing the nation's premier trial attorneys. Selection is based on case results, leadership, and reputation. When you need attorneys who are ready for the courtroom, you want a team that's already proven they belong there.
All five partners of Easton & Easton — Doug, Brian, Matt, Travis, and Gabe — were selected to Best Lawyers in America® 2027. This is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Selection is based entirely on peer review, representing the consensus opinion among leading lawyers in the community. When other attorneys are asked who they trust, they name us.
Our $4.5M settlement in Dump Truck Operator v. Equipment Rental Co. has been recognized as #1 in California for 2025 in two categories: • #1 Paraplegia Settlement in California — 2025 • #1 Rollover Accident Settlement in California — 2025
Our $4.5M settlement in Dump Truck Operator v. Equipment Rental Co. has been recognized as #1 in California for 2025 in two categories: • #1 Paraplegia Settlement in California — 2025 • #1 Rollover Accident Settlement in California — 2025
We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as the #1 Bicycle Accident Settlement in California in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.
Easton & Easton was named a Tier 1 firm in Southern California by U.S. News & World Report — the highest ranking a law firm can achieve. Selection is based on client feedback, peer reputation, and professional excellence. When independent evaluators rank the best, we're at the top.
Gabe Mendoza, Alexandro Garza, Billy Seidlitz, and Aaron Sinfield were selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars — honoring the top 2.5% of attorneys 40 or younger in California. Three attorneys — John, Billy, and Aaron — were selected for the first time in 2026. The next generation of Easton & Easton is already among the best in the state.
Easton & Easton was voted "Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" by readers of the Los Angeles Times in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Three years in a row — chosen by the people we serve
Doug, Brian, Matt, Travis, and Saul were selected to Super Lawyers — a distinction earned by only 5% of California attorneys. Selection is based on peer nominations, independent research, and professional achievement. Doug Easton has been selected for 19 consecutive years. Matt Easton was also named to the Top 50 Orange County Super Lawyers for 2026. When you hire Easton & Easton, you're hiring attorneys in the top 5%.
Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a Top 10 Personal Injury Settlement in California in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.
Easton & Easton received the "People Love Us On Yelp" award in 2016 due to exceptional client satisfaction reviews.Our clients don't just hire us — they recommend us.
Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 20 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.
Brian, Matt, and Travis Easton are lifetime members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — a distinction held by less than 1% of U.S. attorneys. Membership requires securing a verdict or settlement of $2 million or more. When you hire Easton & Easton, you're hiring proven results - because Results Matter.
Doug Easton has held the "AV Preeminent" Rating for over 30 years, and Matt Easton received this prestigious distinction in 2015. The AV Preeminent rating is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards, based on the legal profession's oldest peer review rating system — dating back to 1887. When your peers have trusted your ability and integrity for over three decades, that says everything.
We were recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a the #1 Personal Injury Settlement in Los Angeles County in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.
Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a proven track record of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board. Membership isn't given — it's earned in the courtroom.
Travis Easton, Gabe Mendoza, and Brenda Kocaj were selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 — an invitation-only honor recognizing the nation's top young trial attorneys. At Easton & Easton, experience and ambition work side by side.
Easton & Easton was honored for securing a $20,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2019 by TopVerdict.com.
Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 — based on skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews. A perfect score. No room for higher.
Easton & Easton was honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018-2020 (each year the voting took place).
We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California in 2016 by TopVerdict.com.
20+ prestigious awards and recognitions. Exposed to the harshest scrutiny. Earning the highest honors. Recognized by every major legal organization — year after year.
Awards/recognitions noted are from organizations recognized within the legal profession as bona fide.
No purchase was required for selection. Selection methodologies available upon request.
*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
“We look for the human story behind every injury or wrongful death. We prepare our cases for trial; reaching out to the jury with the most compelling evidence possible for the best verdict possible. Insurance companies know this and come to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith. Call us to see how we can turn your story into fair compensation.”
Partner W. Douglas Easton
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