The devastating impact of a drunk driving collision can change a life instantly. The emotional, physical, and financial consequences of being hit by an intoxicated driver are overwhelming and compounded by the knowledge that the accident was entirely preventable. If you’ve been injured in a crash caused by a drunk driver in Weber County, you need a DUI accident lawyer in Ogden immediately.
You need an Ogden car accident lawyer who understands the challenges of these complex personal injury claims. For 35 years, our legal team at Siegfried & Jensen has been helping Utah injury victims secure the justice and compensation they deserve. We’re dedicated to holding reckless drivers accountable and helping you piece your life back together. Call us now for a free case evaluation.
Explaining a DUI Accident
A DUI accident occurs when a driver operates a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs and causes a crash resulting in injury or death. These cases can involve a driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) over Utah’s legal limit, a driver impaired by prescription or illicit drugs, or a driver who refuses sobriety testing, flees the scene, or behaves recklessly due to intoxication.
When a crash involves intoxication, the victim’s injuries are often severe, and determining liability can be more complex. While the intoxicated driver is clearly at fault, your path to compensation may still require meticulous legal work to establish negligence and prove damages. Also, your Ogden personal injury lawyer will deal with the insurance companies for you to overcome their tactics.
For a free legal consultation with a dui accident lawyer serving Ogden, call (801) 266-0999
How DUI Crashes Differ from Other Car Accidents
DUI accidents are devastating because they involve negligence and a conscious disregard for safety. These cases are often more complex than standard car accidents, requiring careful coordination between criminal proceedings, insurance claims, and civil lawsuits. While many legal principles overlap between standard car accidents and intoxication-related crashes, DUI cases include additional factors:
- Criminal vs. civil proceedings: The intoxicated driver may face criminal charges, but your civil claim for compensation is separate, and you must act within civil deadlines.
- Heightened fault and punitive considerations: Intoxication can strengthen your legal claim, potentially allowing higher compensation for reckless conduct.
- Insurance complexities: Some policies exclude coverage for intoxicated drivers, and some insurers try to limit payouts by blaming you. You need a drunk driving accident lawyer experienced with these tactics.
- More severe injuries: Accidents involving impaired drivers often involve high speeds, a lack of braking, or erratic maneuvers, increasing the severity of your harm.
- Evidence challenges: You and your DUI accident attorney in Ogden may need to gather toxicology reports, police records, skid marks, and witness statements to build a strong claim.
Because DUI-related crashes involve criminal and civil components, having an Ogden DUI accident attorney who understands how the two systems interact is critical. Our attorneys at Siegfried & Jensen ensure you meet all filing deadlines, coordinate with law enforcement to obtain crucial evidence, and pursue all available sources of compensation, so you can focus on healing.
Ogden DUI Accident Lawyer Near Me (801) 266-0999
Legal Challenges in DUI Accident Cases
While a police report confirming a DUI arrest may seem like an open-and-shut case, understanding the process of a personal injury claim is distinct from the driver’s criminal defense case. Successfully pursuing a claim against an intoxicated driver requires focused legal knowledge.
Proving Negligence and Causation
To win a personal injury case in Utah, you must prove that the defendant was negligent and that their negligence was the direct cause of your injuries. A high blood alcohol content (BAC) level is strong evidence of negligence. However, the defense and their insurance company may still try to argue that your actions contributed to the accident or that your injuries pre-dated the crash.
This is why you need an accident lawyer even if you’re not at fault for the crash. At Siegfried & Jensen, we meticulously gather and present evidence to build a solid chain of causation. Contact us today so we can begin collecting evidence to help your case.
Dealing with Complex Insurance Battles
Even when liability seems clear, the at-fault driver’s insurance company is not on your side. Their goal is to pay as little as possible. In some DUI cases, the at-fault driver may be underinsured, or the policy may contain exclusions related to illegal activity. We’re prepared to explore all avenues for recovery, including:
- Dram shop liability: We know the dram shop and social host laws in Utah, and will investigate whether a bar, restaurant, or social host illegally served alcohol to the intoxicated driver, which constitutes a form of third-party liability.
- Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage: We analyze your auto insurance policy to see if your UIM coverage can be activated to cover the gap if the drunk driver’s policy limits are insufficient.
Navigating these insurance issues can be overwhelming on your own, especially while recovering from injuries. Our team knows how to counter insurance company tactics, identify every available source of compensation, and build a strategy designed to protect you.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
Compensation You May Be Entitled to in an Ogden DUI Accident
When you’ve been injured by a driver who was intoxicated, you may wonder what damages you can claim for a drunk driving accident. Your losses likely aren’t just financial. They also reflect the physical pain, emotional hardship, and disruption to your life caused by the accident. You may be able to recover several types of damages:
- Economic damages: Medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation and therapy, vehicle repair or replacement
- Non-economic damages: Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, disability
- Punitive damages: Award in cases of extreme recklessness to punish and deter dangerous conduct
Because DUI accidents often involve egregious behavior, there is a higher potential for compensation, but the insurance company will still fight to reduce its exposure. They may attempt to downplay your injuries, shift blame, or pressure you into accepting a low settlement. That’s why skilled and experienced legal representation from a drunk driving accident attorney is critical.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Why You Need Siegfried & Jensen as Your DUI Accident Attorney in Ogden
When you work with Siegfried & Jensen, you benefit from 35 years of experience helping injured people across Utah and over $1.2 billion recovered on behalf of our clients. Our firm offers free case evaluations and charges no upfront fees. You only pay if we win. With multiple office locations, we’re easy to reach when you need guidance and support.
From the outset, we assume the responsibility of your case, handling investigations, communicating with insurance companies, gathering evidence, and keeping you informed at every step. Our team treats every client with respect and compassion. When you choose us, you’re choosing a law firm that prioritizes your recovery and fights for the compensation you deserve.
Contact Our Ogden DUI Accident Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash caused by an intoxicated driver, contact an Ogden DUI accident lawyer at Siegfried & Jensen to schedule a free case evaluation.
We will help you begin the path toward justice and recovery.
Call or text (801) 266-0999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
