DUI Accident Lawyer in California

Fact: In California, driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or any substance that impairs your awareness or judgment is illegal. This applies even to legal drugs and prescribed medications. If you or a loved one was injured in an accident caused by an impaired driver, a DUI accident lawyer is your best ally in pursuing maximum compensation.

The DUI accident attorneys at Megeredchian Law have the experience, legal knowledge, and strategic insight needed to seek full financial recovery for your damages — even when the at-fault DUI driver is uninsured or flees the scene. You may be able to recover medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, vehicle repair or replacement costs, and more.

Don’t wait — your time to file a claim is limited. Call Megeredchian Law at (866) 359-0807. You will speak directly with an attorney — no call centers, no virtual assistants. We will evaluate your case in just a few minutes and determine whether you qualify for compensation. Don’t miss your opportunity to pursue the recovery you are entitled to under California law.

How a DUI Accident Lawyer Can Hold Drunk Drivers Accountable

When a driver chooses to get behind the wheel under the influence, they create extreme and preventable danger. A DUI accident lawyer’s role is to ensure that this reckless decision carries real legal and financial consequences — and that victims are not left to shoulder the burden alone.

A skilled DUI attorney can hold impaired drivers accountable by:

1. Securing Critical Evidence Early

Your lawyer obtains police reports, body-cam footage, BAC results, field-sobriety test records, witness statements, and crash reconstruction findings to prove the driver’s impairment and reckless conduct.

2. Using Criminal Proceedings to Strengthen Your Case

If the drunk driver is arrested or charged, DUI accident attorneys use that investigation — including citations, test results, and guilty pleas — to support liability in your civil claim.

3. Proving Liability and Rebutting Insurance Defenses

Insurance companies often try to minimize responsibility, even in DUI cases. Your lawyer counters those tactics, demonstrates clear negligence, and prevents insurers from shifting blame onto you.

4. Pursuing All Available Compensation

A DUI accident lawyer demands full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress, property damage, and long-term consequences.

5. Seeking Punitive Damages When Allowed

Because DUI is considered reckless and egregious behavior, DUI accident attorneys often pursue punitive damages — a powerful accountability tool meant to punish dangerous conduct and deter future drunk driving.

6. Investigating Third-Party Liability (When Applicable)

If the impaired driver was under 21 or was overserved despite obvious intoxication, your attorney may pursue claims against bars or establishments that violated California’s limited dram shop laws.

7. Pursuing Compensation Even When the DUI Driver Is Uninsured

A lawyer can still secure compensation even if the drunk driver has no insurance by:

Filing a claim through your uninsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, which applies in DUI collisions.
Identifying other responsible parties (vehicle owners, employers, rideshare companies, etc.).
Investigating whether the driver has attachable assets or other means of satisfying a judgment.
Ensuring all deadlines and procedural requirements are met to avoid claim denials.

Even without insurance, the at-fault driver can still be held financially responsible — and a DUI accident lawyer knows how to uncover all possible paths to recovery.

Can I Claim Compensation If I Was Hit by a Drunk Driver?

If you were hit by a drunk or drug-impaired driver in California, you can pursue compensation for your injuries. Because DUI is a criminal offense, these cases often create a stronger basis for a civil claim, and additional forms of compensation may be available.

Depending on the circumstances, you may recover damages such as:

Medical expenses, including ongoing or future treatment needs
Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress or psychological trauma
Costs related to home or vehicle modifications required by your injuries

In DUI cases, you may also qualify for punitive damages intended to punish the impaired driver’s reckless conduct. Evidence from the criminal investigation — such as BAC results, police reports, or witness statements — can strengthen your claim. You may still seek compensation even if the drunk driver is uninsured through uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage or other available avenues.

The Difference Between a Regular Accident and a DUI Accident

DUI-related crashes differ from standard car accidents in several important ways:

1. Fault Determination

When a driver is under the influence, proving negligence is much more straightforward because DUI is a clear violation of California law. In a typical car accident, fault may be disputed and often requires deeper analysis of speed, road conditions, or driver behavior.

2. Criminal vs. Civil Proceedings

A DUI crash triggers two parallel processes:

a criminal case against the impaired driver
a civil claim for the victim’s damages

Regular collisions usually involve only civil claims unless the conduct rises to criminal behavior (e.g., reckless driving, street racing).

3. Potential for Punitive Damages

Because DUI is considered egregious misconduct, victims may pursue punitive damages to punish the driver. These damages are rarely available in ordinary accidents unless there is extreme wrongdoing.

4. Insurance Claim Handling

Insurance carriers treat DUI claims differently, often taking an aggressive stance against their own insured. The intoxicated driver may face coverage issues, and the victim may experience a faster or more favorable settlement because liability is harder for the insurer to contest.

5. Evidence and Documentation

DUI accidents come with additional layers of evidence — chemical tests, police observations, field sobriety reports, and witness accounts regarding impairment. This strengthens the civil case compared to standard collisions, where evidence may be limited to photos, statements, and property damage.

6. Consequences for the At-Fault Driver

A drunk driver faces serious penalties: criminal charges, license suspension, increased insurance rates, and possibly jail time. Drivers involved in regular accidents typically deal with civil damages and traffic citations only.

7. Impact on Victims

Victims of DUI crashes often experience heightened emotional distress, knowing the crash was caused by illegal and preventable behavior. This may affect their recovery and the type of damages they pursue.

What Compensation Can You Claim from a DUI Accident?

If you were injured in a DUI accident in California, you may be eligible to pursue several types of compensation that reflect both your financial losses and the personal impact of the crash. These generally fall into economic damages, non-economic damages, and in certain cases, punitive damages.

Economic Damages

These reimburse the measurable financial losses caused by the DUI driver. They may include:

Emergency medical treatment
Hospitalization, surgeries, and specialist care
Rehabilitation and long-term medical treatment
Prescription medications and medical equipment
Future medical expenses if ongoing care is expected
Lost income while you are unable to work
Loss of earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work in the future
Vehicle repair or replacement
Other out-of-pocket expenses, such as transportation to medical visits or home modifications
Replacement of household services when injuries prevent you from performing daily tasks

Non-Economic Damages

These compensate for the personal, emotional, and long-term consequences of the accident. They may include:

Pain and suffering
Emotional distress and anxiety
Loss of enjoyment of life
Physical impairment or disfigurement
Loss of companionship or support (in cases where injuries significantly impact family relationships)

Punitive Damages

Because DUI behavior is considered reckless and dangerous, courts may award punitive damages. These are not tied to a specific loss; instead, they are meant to punish the impaired driver and deter similar conduct. They require showing that the driver acted with a conscious disregard for the safety of others — which is often easier to prove in DUI cases but still must be established.

What Can Be Done if You Lose a Loved one in a DUI Accident?

Losing a family member in a DUI crash is an unbearable tragedy. In California, you may take legal action to pursue accountability and financial compensation, as long as you qualify as the legal next-of-kin. The state recognizes the following order of priority:

Spouse or registered domestic partner
Children
Parents

If none of these apply to you, you may still have legal standing depending on your relationship to the victim. A DUI accident lawyer can determine your eligibility.

Your Legal Options After a Fatal DUI Crash

1. File a Wrongful Death Claim

You may bring a wrongful death action against the impaired driver for the financial and emotional harm caused by the loss. These claims commonly include damages such as:

Funeral and burial costs
Loss of financial support
Loss of companionship, guidance, or care
Emotional suffering related to the loss

2. File a Survival Action (separate from wrongful death)

If your loved one survived for any period after the collision, the estate can seek compensation for the damages they personally endured before death, such as:

Medical bills
Lost earnings
Conscious pain and suffering

This is a distinct legal claim that many families overlook.

3. Seek Punitive Damages

Because DUI behavior is considered reckless and egregious, courts may award punitive damages to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct.

4. Take Advantage of Criminal Proceedings

The DUI driver will likely face criminal charges. A conviction or guilty plea can significantly strengthen your civil case because it helps establish liability. You also have the right to:

Receive updates about the criminal case
Deliver a victim impact statement during sentencing

5. Request Criminal Restitution

In addition to civil lawsuits, you may ask the criminal court to order the defendant to pay restitution for certain economic losses.

6. Use Insurance Options — Even if the DUI Driver Is Uninsured

If the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage, you may still pursue compensation through:

Uninsured motorist (UM)
Underinsured motorist (UIM)
coverage on the victim’s policy.

7. File Your Claim on Time

California allows two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Missing this deadline can completely bar your case.

Steps to Take Immediately After a Fatal DUI Accident

Consult a wrongful death attorney who handles DUI cases; they’ll build the claim and investigate fault.
Secure evidence such as police reports, toxicology results, witness statements, and medical documentation.
Open an estate if necessary, so the proper party can file the survival action.
Seek emotional support through counseling or grief groups as you navigate the legal process.

California DUI Laws Are on Your Side

California’s DUI laws don’t just punish impaired drivers — they give victims strong legal advantages when pursuing compensation. Because driving under the influence is a clear violation of a public safety law, an at-fault driver who is arrested or convicted of DUI is generally considered negligent per se, making it far easier for injured victims to establish liability in a civil claim.

In DUI-related crashes, victims may also qualify for additional forms of compensation, including punitive damages or criminal-court restitution, since the driver’s conduct is legally viewed as reckless or grossly negligent. Even if the impaired driver is uninsured or flees the scene, California law still protects victims through uninsured motorist claims and the ability to file a civil lawsuit separate from the criminal process. In some cases involving underage drinking, victims may also pursue claims against the establishment that supplied alcohol.

Another way these laws protect victims is through mandatory evidence collection. When DUI is suspected, officers must document impairment indicators, perform BAC testing, and preserve body-cam and dash-cam footage. This strengthens your civil case and helps your attorney prove fault and damages more effectively.

If you were injured by an impaired driver, California law gives you powerful tools to fight for full compensation — but these protections only work to your advantage when an experienced DUI accident lawyer uses them strategically on your behalf.

Los Angeles “Serious Injury” Threshold

Unlike states with no-fault insurance systems, Los Angeles and the rest of California do not use a formal “serious injury threshold.” There is no statute that limits your right to pursue non-economic damages after a DUI crash or any car accident.

In California, you do not need to prove a legally defined “serious injury” to file a claim for pain and suffering.
Instead, you only need to show that:

The other driver was negligent or driving under the influence;
Their conduct caused your injuries; and
Your injuries resulted in measurable damages (economic or non-economic).

Because California is a fault-based state, you may pursue compensation immediately after the crash, even for injuries that would not meet a “threshold” in no-fault states.

DUI Accident Attorneys for All Types of Accidents

Megeredchian Law’s DUI accident attorneys are prepared to protect your rights after any collision caused by an impaired driver, regardless of the type of accident involved. Our representation is not limited to car crashes — we handle a wide range of DUI-related accidents and personal injury cases. Below is a complete list of accident types for which a DUI driver may be held liable and from which we can pursue compensation on your behalf:

Find a Qualified Drunk Driver Accident Attorney Near Me in California

Hiring a knowledgeable, local California DUI accident lawyer can make a huge difference. Not every town or city is the same. They all have their particular challenges and complexities. Also, having a drunk driver accident attorney near you can definitely ease the whole claim process. Swift communication is fundamental, and having your lawyer nearby can give you a much needed sense of trust and peace of mind.

Our headquarters are located at:

350 N Glenoaks Blvd 3rd floor, Burbank, CA 91501

You can also find us in:

Northern California

Central California

Southern California

Why is Drunk Driving Such a Problem in California?

Drunk driving occurs everywhere, but several statewide factors make California—especially Los Angeles County—one of the places where impaired driving is most common and most dangerous. A combination of dense population, heavy tourism, limited public transportation, and a strong car-dependent culture creates conditions where impaired driving becomes far more likely.

California’s Car-Dependent Lifestyle

Across most of California, driving is the primary mode of transportation. Long distances between cities, limited late-night transit, and suburban sprawl mean people often rely on their cars to get home after drinking. When someone overestimates their abilities or tries to avoid spending on a rideshare, impaired driving becomes a serious risk.

High Population and Congested Roadways

California is the most populated state in the country, and Los Angeles consistently ranks among the most congested metro areas. More vehicles on the road—combined with widespread nightlife and events—means more opportunities for drunk drivers to cause collisions.

Tourism and Year-Round Nightlife

California’s weather allows nightlife, concerts, bars, festivals, and sporting events to operate year-round. Burbank in particular is only minutes from downtown Los Angeles, giving residents and tourists access to world-class nightclubs, restaurants, bars, and entertainment districts.

All it takes is a few drinks for a driver’s judgment and reaction time to deteriorate. When visitors or locals drive back to Burbank after a night out, impaired driving crashes can happen in a matter of seconds.

Tourists Who Rely on Rental Cars

Millions of tourists visit the region every year. Many depend on rental cars to move between attractions. When tourists fail to moderate their drinking—or when they’re unfamiliar with local streets—they can easily trigger catastrophic collisions that affect both visitors and Burbank residents.

Limited Late-Night Public Transportation

While California offers some transit options—like Metrolink—service hours are limited and do not cover late-night travel. For people heading to Los Angeles for drinks, for example, this often leaves only two choices:

Use a rideshare or taxi, or
Drive themselves

Some choose the second option to “save money,” leading to preventable DUI crashes even on short drives.

High-Speed Rural and Suburban Corridors

Beyond Los Angeles, California has long rural highways where impaired drivers travel at high speeds with minimal police visibility. These environments often produce the most devastating DUI fatalities statewide—an important factor missing from the original text.

High-Speed Rural and Suburban Corridors

Real Life DUI Accidents in 2025

Our local accident news section has reported all types of incidents recently, and we can say firsthand that DUI collisions are among the most frequent. These crashes aren’t limited to vehicle-to-vehicle accidents — pedestrians are often among the most vulnerable victims of impaired drivers. DUI incidents also tend to coincide with another sadly common problem on California roads: hit-and-run crashes.

Just look at some of the DUI-related accident reports from the last three months of 2025. Nearly half occurred within the same month — and in some cases, two happened on the same day:

[11-21-2025] San Diego County, CA – Woman Passenger Seriously Injured in Suspected DUI Crash in Midway District

[11-21-2025] Los Angeles County, CA – Mauricio De La O Romero Identified as Victim in Suspected DUI Fatal Crash in South Los Angeles

[11-20-2025] Orange County, CA – Man Pleads Guilty in Westminster Crash That Killed Motorcyclist Nathan Philip Perreault

[11-20-2025] Orange County, CA – Teen Identified as Luis Adrian Morales Pacheco Killed in Dana Point Hit-and-Run; Suspect Has Two Prior DUIs

[11-18-2025] Los Angeles County, CA – Man, 68, Identified as Victim in South L.A. DUI Crash After Driver Runs Red Light

[10-30-2025] San Diego County, CA – Two Men Injured in Suspected DUI Crash in Chula Vista

[10-22-2025] Los Angeles County, CA – Three Killed, Several Injured in Multi-Vehicle Crash on 10 Freeway in Ontario; Truck Driver Suspected of DUI

[10-21-2025] San Diego County, CA – Woman, 50, Killed in Suspected DUI Head-On Crash in Spring Valley

[10-20-2025] Los Angeles County, CA – Wrong-Way Driver Killed in Suspected DUI Crash on 5 Freeway in Burbank

[09-24-2025] Los Angeles County, CA – Lancaster Teen Killed in Multi-Vehicle Crash Caused by Suspected DUI Driver

These patterns are not coincidences — they reflect a persistent and serious danger on our roads. Staying informed is the first step, but if you or a loved one has been affected by a DUI driver, getting legal help immediately from a knowledgeable DUI accident lawyer can make all the difference.

Useful Resources and FAQs for DUI Accident Victims

Car Accident Settlement & Liability Articles

DUI-Related Accidents & Compensation

Hit-and-Run Accidents

Distracted / Texting & Driving

Slow Driving & Traffic Violations

Litigation & Legal Representation

Defend Yourself from Impaired Drivers With a Skilled DUI Accident Lawyer

Don’t let someone else’s reckless behavior leave you with injuries, financial strain, and emotional distress. If you were involved in an accident caused by an impaired driver, you may be entitled to compensation. The only way to know for certain is to call Megeredchian Law at (866) 359-0807 to schedule a free consultation. We’ll review your case in just a few minutes, and if you qualify, an experienced DUI accident lawyer will be assigned to fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.