Drunk Driver Accidents Attorneys in Livonia, MI

At Vahdat Weisman Law, we stand up for people whose lives have been upended by drunk driving. From our office in Livonia, Michigan, we represent clients throughout Michigan and in other parts of the United States in drunk-driving cases. A collision with an impaired driver is sudden and devastating, and it raises complicated legal, medical, and insurance questions. Our auto accident lawyers’ role is to take that weight off your shoulders, protect your rights, and pursue the full compensation Michigan law allows, while you focus on healing.

Understanding Liability After a Drunk Driving Crash

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol above certain limits is illegal. It is also incredibly dangerous. When an intoxicated motorist causes a crash, that driver can be held liable in a civil case, in addition to being prosecuted in a criminal case, for the harms that follow, including medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering, when the threshold is met.

In addition to claims against the at-fault driver, some cases involve claims against other parties that contributed to the risk, such as a bar, restaurant, or liquor licensee that unlawfully served an intoxicated person. These are often called “dram shop” claims, and Michigan law imposes strict notice and timing requirements, including a 120-day notice requirement, so early investigation is critical.

How Michigan No-Fault Benefits Work After a Crash

Michigan is a no-fault state, which means your own automobile insurer is usually responsible for paying certain benefits regardless of who caused the crash. These are called Personal Injury Protection benefits (often abbreviated “PIP” benefits), and they can include allowable medical expenses up to the limits of your policy, wage loss for a limited period of time, replacement services, and attendant care when appropriate.

Because recent legal reforms allow drivers to choose different PIP medical coverage levels, your available benefits will depend on your individual policy, any coordination with health insurance, and whether exclusions or priority issues apply. Our team reviews policies carefully, coordinates claims, and pushes back when an insurer unreasonably delays or denies payment.

Third-Party Bodily Injury Claims for Pain and Suffering

No-fault benefits do not compensate you for pain and suffering. To recover noneconomic damages from the at-fault driver and that driver’s insurer, Michigan law requires proof that the other driver was negligent and that you suffered a serious impairment of body function, permanent serious disfigurement, or death. The serious-impairment standard is a fact-specific one, meaning that it depends on the unique facts and circumstances of your case. Medical records, imaging, provider opinions, and your day-to-day limitations all matter. We work with your physicians, gather objective proof, and present your story clearly to demonstrate how the crash changed your ability to lead your normal life.

Wrongful Death Claims

When an impaired driver causes a fatal crash, the claim proceeds under Michigan’s Wrongful Death Act (MCL 600.2922). The personal representative of the estate brings the case for the benefit of the family, and recoverable damages can include loss of financial support and services, loss of society and companionship, medical and funeral expenses, and the decedent’s conscious pain and suffering before death. These cases are complex and include opening an estate, identifying all beneficiaries, and obtaining court approvals when required. We guide families through each step with sensitivity.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Drunk driving often coincides with inadequate insurance. If the at-fault driver has no insurance or too little insurance to cover your losses, you may have a claim under your own Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist coverage (referred to as “UM” or “UIM” coverage). These coverages are contractual, so claim deadlines, notice requirements, and consent-to-settle provisions are usually strict. We evaluate your policy early, secure the necessary consents, and protect your right to recover every available dollar.

Dram Shop Liability and Notice Requirements

In drunk-driving cases, liability claims against individuals and businesses that serve alcohol are financially lucrative but substantively and procedurally complicated. To prevail, a plaintiff must typically prove that a licensed seller served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person, that the intoxication caused the crash, and that proper statutory notice was provided. Video footage, point-of-sale receipts, witness statements, and expert toxicology can be decisive.

Because Michigan law sets a short window to identify the establishment and give written notice (usually 120 days), immediate action can make the difference between a viable claim and a lost opportunity. Our team moves quickly to preserve evidence before it disappears and provide notice before it is too late.

Property Damage and Vehicle Repairs

Beyond personal injury claims, Michigan law provides certain property-damage remedies in drunk-driving cases. In many instances, your collision coverage will handle repairs or total loss payments, subject to deductibles and subrogation. Some crashes implicate mini-tort claims against the at-fault driver for vehicle damage up to the statutory cap (usually $3,000), which can help offset deductibles. We help you navigate these options, coordinate rental vehicles when possible, and work to reduce out-of-pocket costs while your personal injury case proceeds.

Exemplary Damages and Criminal Proceedings

Michigan does not allow punitive damages like other states. But exemplary damages can be available when the defendant’s conduct was malicious or showed willful disregard for your rights, and those damages compensate for the humiliation, sense of outrage, or indignity caused.

A drunk-driving prosecution brought by the prosecutor’s office is separate from your civil case. Criminal convictions, guilty pleas, and bodily alcohol content (BAC) evidence can be relevant, but your civil recovery does not depend on the outcome of the criminal case. We monitor the criminal matter, obtain admissible criminal records when helpful, and protect the timeline in your civil claims regardless of how the criminal prosecution unfolds.

Deadlines and the Importance of Acting Quickly

Strict statutes of limitations apply to personal injury and wrongful death claims. Dram shop claims also have unique deadlines and notice rules. PIP benefit claims carry their own notice and one-year-back recovery limitations. Missing a deadline can reduce or even eliminate your recovery.

Early legal counsel ensures that notices are sent, claims are filed, and evidence is preserved, all promptly. We immediately request 911 audio, body-cam footage, dash-cam footage, bar and restaurant video, and surveillance footage from nearby businesses. We also secure vehicle data recorders and inspect crash scenes before seasonal changes alter sight lines or signage.

What to Do After a Drunk-Driving Crash

Your health and safety come first. Get medical evaluation promptly, follow treatment recommendations, and keep copies of discharge instructions and prescriptions. If you are able, take photos of vehicle positions, damage, skid marks, and road conditions. Collect contact information for witnesses and respond honestly to law enforcement. You should also avoid discussing fault with insurers before speaking to counsel, and do not sign releases that allow broad access to your medical history. Notify your automobile insurer right away to open your PIP claim and let us manage communications so your words are not taken out of context and used against you.

How We Build Your Drunk-Driving Case

We start with a detailed intake process to capture your medical history, employment expectations, household responsibilities, and post-crash limitations. We obtain police reports, chemical test results, and criminal court documents. We also interview witnesses, canvass nearby businesses for video, and retain appropriate experts, including accident reconstructionists, human factors experts, and toxicologists, when needed.

On the medical side, we coordinate with treating providers to document diagnoses, causation, prognosis, work restrictions, and future care needs. For economic losses, we gather wage records, verify benefits, and, when appropriate, engage vocational and economic experts to quantify future loss of earning capacity.

Dealing With Insurance Companies

Insurers often focus on risk, not fairness. Adjusters may request recorded statements, broad medical authorizations, or quick settlement discussions before the full picture is known. We handle all communications, limit authorizations to what Michigan law requires, and insist on a complete assessment of your injuries and future needs before evaluating any offer. If liability is disputed, we prepare for litigation early, file suit when warranted, and use discovery to obtain information, data, and testimony that insurers are unlikely to volunteer. That approach often leads to better settlement offers, and it ensures we are ready to try your case when doing so is in your best interests.

Special Considerations With Catastrophic Injuries

Drunk-driving crashes can result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, complex fractures, amputations, and severe burns. Catastrophic injury cases require long-term planning, life care assessments, home modification evaluations, and in-home support.

We coordinate multidisciplinary care, verify coverage under PIP medical limits and health insurance, and pursue claims that account for the true lifetime cost of a disability. When families need guardianship or conservatorship assistance, we help them petition the court so that financial and medical decisions can be made lawfully and efficiently.

Protecting Your Privacy and Dignity

Personal injury litigation involves sensitive information. We take steps to protect your privacy through tailored discovery responses, motions to limit irrelevant inquiries, and the careful presentation of evidence. In cases involving minors, we work to shield identifying information and seek appropriate protective orders. Your story deserves to be told accurately and respectfully, and we prepare you for every step so you feel confident and in control.

Our Commitment and Fee Structure

People often ask how they can afford a lawyer after a serious crash. We handle drunk-driving injury cases on a contingency-fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fee unless we obtain a recovery for you. We advance case costs as permitted by law, explain those costs clearly, and recover them only if there is a settlement or verdict. From the first phone call to the day you receive your check, you will get straight answers, clear timelines, and regular updates.

Why Choose Vahdat Weisman Law

An attorney’s experience matters, but so does their approach. We pair a deep knowledge of Michigan’s no-fault system with practical trial readiness and an investigative mindset. We know how to navigate PIP issues, UM and UIM claims, dram shop complexities, and the delicate nature of wrongful death cases, and we know how to communicate your losses to insurers, mediators, judges, and juries. Our clients work directly with accessible attorneys and a responsive team that treats every case as if it were going to court, because that preparation drives results.

Serving Clients Across Michigan and Beyond

Although we are based in Livonia, Vahdat Weisman Law serves clients throughout Michigan, including in Wayne County, Oakland County, Macomb County, Washtenaw County, Genesee County, Ingham County, and communities across the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. We also assist injured people in other parts of the United States through local counsel arrangements in specific cases. Wherever a drunk driver’s choices have hurt someone, we are prepared to help.

Take the Next Step

If you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk-driving crash, you do not have to face insurers and deadlines alone. Contact Vahdat Weisman Law at (734) 469-4994 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation. We will listen to your story, explain your options, and start protecting your rights immediately. The sooner you involve experienced counsel, the stronger your case will be.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique, and prior results do not guarantee future success.