DUI and Impaired driving crashes are some of the deadliest collisions on Greensboro’s roads. When a person gets behind the wheel while impaired by alcohol or drugs, their ability to react, judge distance, and control a vehicle is seriously compromised. That dramatically raises the risk of catastrophic injuries or death for pedestrians and other drivers.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in one of these crashes, your life has likely been turned upside down. Emergency medical treatment, mounting bills, lost income, and emotional trauma can quickly create financial and personal strain. While North Carolina law allows impaired drivers to face criminal penalties such as fines, jail time, probation, and license suspension, these punishments do not compensate victims. That’s where a civil claim becomes essential.
At Bradley Law Group, we help injured people and grieving families across Greensboro and throughout North Carolina seek justice and fair financial recovery after DUI and impaired driving crashes. We understand what you’re going through, and we stand ready to guide you through every step of the legal process.
Common Injuries From DUI and Impaired Driving Crashes
Crashes caused by impaired drivers can leave victims with devastating, life-altering injuries. The sheer force of a high-speed impact often results in physical trauma that can affect every aspect of daily life. Some of the most serious injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): Even a mild concussion can cause headaches, memory problems, and difficulty concentrating. Severe TBIs may change a person’s personality, impair speech, or limit independence, requiring long-term care.
- Spinal cord injuries: Damage to the spine can lead to partial or complete paralysis. For survivors, routine tasks like dressing, bathing, or driving may become impossible without assistance, placing immense strain on families.
- Broken bones and fractures: These injuries often require surgeries, lengthy hospital stays, and extensive rehabilitation, keeping victims away from work and disrupting their daily lives.
- Internal injuries: Damage to organs such as the liver, spleen, or lungs may not be immediately apparent but can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. Recovery can be prolonged and painful.
- Severe lacerations and soft tissue damage: Cuts, deep bruises, and scarring can lead to permanent disfigurement or chronic pain, affecting self-esteem and quality of life.
In the most tragic cases, victims do not survive these crashes. Families are left to cope with the sudden loss of a loved one, along with the financial and emotional burdens that follow.
How Our Greensboro Drugged and Impaired Driving Accident Attorneys Can Help
You should never have to face the aftermath of someone else’s reckless decisions alone. After an impaired or drunk driving accident, victims often struggle with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, lost income, and emotional trauma, all while trying to make sense of what comes next.
Even when the driver’s intoxication is obvious, these cases are rarely simple or straightforward. Insurance companies may minimize your injuries, question liability, or delay compensation, and families dealing with a fatal crash can feel overwhelmed by legal and financial uncertainty.
At Bradley Law Group, our experienced Greensboro injury attorneys have stood by victims and families affected by DUI accidents for more than 20 years. We can help advocate for the justice and compensation you deserve.
Here’s how we support you:
- Gathering and preserving critical evidence: From police reports and toxicology results to medical records and witness statements, we build a thorough case that reflects the full impact of the crash.
- Strategizing for every stage: We analyze liability, anticipate insurance defenses, and develop a plan tailored to your situation, whether that means negotiating a settlement or taking your case to trial.
- Maximizing compensation: We fight for reimbursement of medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and, in wrongful death cases, funeral costs and loss of support.
- Providing guidance and support: We help you understand your options, explain each step in plain language, and ensure you feel informed and supported throughout the process.
We take on the legal challenges so you can focus on healing and rebuilding. Our consultations are free, and you pay nothing unless we secure compensation for you. At every step, our goal is to help victims and families move forward with confidence, knowing someone is fighting for them.
Understanding Liability in DUI and Impaired Driving Crashes
When someone drives under the influence of alcohol or drugs and causes a crash, it’s natural to assume responsibility is obvious, but these cases are often more complicated than they appear. Even when a driver’s intoxication is clear, insurance companies or opposing parties may try to argue whether their driver was actually impaired. Similarly, they may argue that an opposing driver (you) were equally responsible for causing the accident. (Wilful and wanton negligence) This is fact dependant of course. In North Carolina, these arguments matter because of the state’s pure contributory negligence system. In some cases, even a small percentage of blame can bar you from recovering compensation.
It is also important to note that in some cases, liability can extend beyond the negligent driver. For example, under North Carolina’s dram shop laws, bars, restaurants, and other establishments can be held liable if they serve alcohol to someone who is visibly intoxicated and later causes a crash. These additional avenues can be critical for securing full compensation, especially in serious or fatal accidents.
At Bradley Law Group, we evaluate every potential source of liability, ensure all responsible parties are considered, and counter arguments that seek to unfairly reduce your recovery.
Types of Compensation You May Be Entitled To After a DUI or Impaired Driving Crash
Victims in drunk or impaired driving crashes may be entitled to several types of compensation, including:
- Medical expenses for hospital care, surgeries, therapy, and future treatment needs.
- Lost wages and reduced ability to work due to long‑term disability.
- Property damage to vehicles, personal belongings, and other items lost or destroyed in the crash.
- Pain and suffering for physical and emotional trauma.
- Funeral and burial costs in fatal crash cases.
- Loss of companionship and support for surviving family members.
North Carolina law also allows for punitive damages in cases involving egregious conduct, like driving intoxicated with conscious disregard for others’ safety. Punitive damages are designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future.
Our experienced attorneys will explain which types of damages may apply to your case and pursue every avenue for fair compensation.
Key Evidence That Can Strengthen Your Claim
Strong evidence is critical in proving your claim after a DUI or drugged driving crash. Examples of evidence that can make a significant difference include:
- Police reports that note impairment, field sobriety tests, citations, or arrest details.
- Toxicology results showing blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or drugs in the driver’s system.
- Medical records and bills documenting the nature and extent of your injuries.
- Photos and videos of the crash scene and vehicle damage.
- Witness statements from people who saw the crash or the driver’s behavior before impact.
- Surveillance or traffic camera footage that captured the collision.
Your attorney will know how to preserve and present this evidence effectively so insurance companies cannot downplay your injuries or shift blame unfairly.
What To Do After a DUI or Impaired Driving Crash in Greensboro
Immediately after an accident caused by a drunk driver, knowing the right steps to take can protect your health and your legal rights:
- Ensure safety and call 911. Move yourself and others out of harm’s way, and summon police and medical help.
- Seek medical attention right away. Some injuries, like internal bleeding or concussions, may not be obvious immediately.
- Stay at the scene and cooperate with the police. Provide factual information about what happened without speculating or admitting anything about fault.
- Collect information. Record the names, insurance details, and contact information of other drivers and witnesses.
- Document the scene if possible. Photos or videos of vehicle damage, injuries, road conditions, and traffic can be invaluable later.
- Contact a Greensboro personal injury law firm promptly. Evidence can fade quickly, and your attorney can help preserve it and guide next steps.
Taking these steps can help you protect your claim while ensuring you focus on your recovery.
Contact Our Greensboro DUI Crash Attorneys
If you’ve been injured or you’ve lost a loved one due to someone else’s reckless behavior, you don’t have to face the legal system alone. At Bradley Law Group, our legal team knows how to stand up to insurance companies and fight for compensation that reflects the full impact of your injuries and losses.
Contact us for a free consultation. Our attorneys will listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain your options. There’s no fee unless we recover compensation for you.