Eight People Injured in South Philadelphia Car Accident

An SUV reportedly hopped a sidewalk and barreled towards a block party that was taking place South Ringgold Street. Eight people suffered injuries and had to be transported to the hospital, including a pregnant woman.

The reckless driver reportedly told police that her brakes failed, but the video footage of the collision indicates otherwise. Police plan to charge the driver with driving under the influence, according to 6 ABC News.

If the driver was in fact intoxicated, it would continue a troubling trend in and around Philadelphia of intoxicated drivers creating serious safety issues on roads and highways. According to PennDOT, approximately 345 people were killed in accidents involving an intoxicated driver in 2015.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 10,076 people were killed in accidents involving an intoxicated driver. That means drunk driving accidents represented over 30 percent of the total car accident deaths in the U.S. in 2013 alone.

Car Accident Injury Lawsuit against Intoxicated Driver

If you or a family member was hurt in a collision with an intoxicated driver, contact an attorney to discuss your legal options. Why? Because the drunk driver can be held liable for their careless and reckless actions when a collision occurs. Someone found to be driving under the influence will most likely be charged criminally. This does not preclude you from filing a civil personal injury or wrongful death claim.

To succeed in holding the intoxicated driver liable, there needs to be evidence that the driver was negligent and that negligence was the proximate cause of the accident and your bodily injuries, or loss of life. This is where an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer can be a tremendous asset. Your attorney will investigate the scene of the wreck, talk with the police, reach out to any witnesses who saw the collision, negotiate with the insurance adjuster, and file a lawsuit in civil court.

Financial Restitution You May Pursue Through a Civil Action

A personal injury claim allows you to seek financial restitution for your harms and losses, which typically includes your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. The amount you can reasonably expect to recover will depend on the extent of your harms and losses, along with the amount of available automobile insurance coverage.

Experienced Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Ready to Help

Getting injured in an accident with a drunk driver can leave you damaged physically, emotionally, and financially. van der Veen, Hartshorn & Levin is here to help. Our Philadelphia car accident lawyers are ready to fight for you and pursue maximum compensation for your harms and losses. Contact our office today for a free consultation.