Drivers impaired by alcohol pose an incredible danger to those in and around New Haven, Connecticut. Unfortunately, impaired driving accidents are not uncommon, and they often result in severe injuries for victims. At Jacobs & Jacobs, we are here to help if you need a New Haven drunk driving accident attorney by your side. We know what it takes to fully investigate motor vehicle accidents and help you pursue the full and fair compensation you may be owed for your losses.
Drunk driving car accident cases are often challenging for injury victims. This is because not only do they have to deal with insurance companies who do not want to pay these claims, but they may also have to deal with law enforcement officials when seeking evidence to prove what happened.
A skilled New Haven drunk driving accident lawyer can use their resources to:
Jacobs & Jacobs has handled car accident cases in Connecticut for over 100 years throughout New Haven and the surrounding communities, and we put that experience to work investigating what happened in your case.
Alcohol-impaired driving remains one of the most persistent dangers on Connecticut roads. According to the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s Office of Highway Safety, 140 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes in Connecticut in 2022.
Nationally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 11,904 people were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in 2024 alone. That’s 30% of all U.S. traffic fatalities that year. That’s an average of one death every 44 minutes.
In Connecticut, a driver is considered legally intoxicated at a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, or 0.02 for drivers under 21, under Connecticut General Statutes § 14-227a.
Drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs often travel at high speed and sometimes do not even step on the brakes before a collision occurs.
It is not uncommon for the New Haven drunk driving accident lawyers at Jacobs & Jacobs to help clients who have sustained the following catastrophic injuries in these incidents:
Connecticut law treats drunk driving as more than ordinary carelessness, and that can work in your favor as an injury victim. A drunk driving citation or conviction, or even strong evidence of impairment, can serve as powerful proof of fault in your civil case, and you do not need a criminal conviction to bring a civil claim.
Connecticut law also allows for enhanced compensation in these cases. Under Connecticut General Statutes § 14-295, a judge or jury may award double or treble (triple) damages when a driver deliberately or recklessly violated a safety statute, including the DUI law, and that violation was a substantial factor in causing your injuries. This claim must be specifically requested in the lawsuit, and our attorneys can help you determine whether your case qualifies.
If the impaired driver was served alcohol by a bar, restaurant, or other licensed seller shortly before the crash, Connecticut’s Dram Shop Act, Connecticut General Statutes § 30-102, may allow you to pursue a separate claim against that business if it served alcohol to someone who was already visibly intoxicated.
Damages under this law are capped at $250,000 per injured person. Written notice to the seller is generally required within 120 days of the accident, or within 180 days if the injured person died or was incapacitated.
Keep in mind that Connecticut law generally gives injury victims two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, under Connecticut General Statutes § 52-584, with an outside limit of three years in most cases. A wrongful death claim generally must be filed within two years of the date of death, and no more than five years from the underlying negligent act, under Connecticut General Statutes § 52-555.
Waiting too long can cost you your right to recover, so speak with an attorney as soon as possible after a drunk driving accident.
Civil lawsuits arising from a New Haven-area drunk driving accident are typically filed in the Judicial District of New Haven at the Superior Court.
Experiencing a motor vehicle accident caused by a drunk driver is a stressful, nerve-wracking endeavor. If you or a loved one is involved in a collision, our New Haven car accident attorneys recommend following these steps:
A: Connecticut treats a driver as legally intoxicated at a BAC of .08 or higher, or .02 for drivers under 21, under Connecticut General Statutes § 14-227a.
A: No. You can pursue a civil claim for compensation even if the driver is never criminally convicted, since the standard of proof in a civil case is lower than in criminal court.
A: Possibly. Connecticut General Statutes § 14-295 allows a judge or jury to award double or treble damages when a driver recklessly or deliberately drove drunk and that conduct caused your injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to the actions of an alcohol-impaired driver in New Haven, contact the team at Jacobs & Jacobs for help today. We have the resources necessary to fully investigate every aspect of your car accident.
Our car accident attorneys strive to pursue fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage expenses, pain and suffering damages, and more. When you need a New Haven drunk driving accident attorney, you can contact us online for a free consultation or calling us at (203) 777-2300.