Broken Arrow Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Broken Arrow, OK

If a drunk driver injured you or killed someone you love, you’re dealing with more than just physical harm. There’s anger. Disbelief that someone chose to get behind the wheel intoxicated. And the frustrating reality that this crash was entirely preventable.

Drunk driving accidents aren’t accidents in the traditional sense. They result from a conscious decision to drive after drinking. Oklahoma law treats this conduct seriously, and so do we.

Wandres Law has represented injured Oklahomans for nearly two decades. Our firm has helped clients recover millions of dollars in auto accident cases throughout the Tulsa metro, including crashes caused by impaired drivers. In drunk driving cases, victims may be entitled to punitive damages beyond standard compensation. We pursue every available dollar.

If an intoxicated driver has devastated your life, our Broken Arrow, OK car accident lawyer can help you hold them accountable.

Why Choose Wandres Law for Drunk Driving Accident Cases in Broken Arrow, OK?

Attorneys Who Pursue Full Accountability

Drunk driving cases require attorneys willing to fight aggressively. The at-fault driver made a choice that caused your injuries. Their insurance company will try to minimize the payout anyway. We don’t let that happen.

Firm Partner Patrick Wandres has handled catastrophic injury cases in Oklahoma since 2006. He pursues not only compensatory damages for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, but also punitive damages when the evidence supports them. Punitive damages punish egregious conduct and send a message that drunk driving has serious consequences.

Patrick is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer rating available. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for 12 consecutive years and named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 list annually since 2012.

Substantial Results in Motor Vehicle Cases

Our firm has obtained significant recoveries for clients injured in car accidents in Broken Arrow and throughout Oklahoma. We secured $750,000 in a motor vehicle collision case and $600,000 for a client with rib fractures and neck strain. A semi-truck collision resulting in a fractured leg and hip settled for $750,000.

Drunk driving crashes often cause catastrophic injuries due to the high speeds and failure to brake that characterize impaired driving. We have the experience to handle these high-value claims.

Thorough Evidence Collection

Proving intoxication requires swift action. Blood alcohol test results, police reports, toxicology records, bar receipts, witness statements, and surveillance footage all matter. Evidence disappears quickly. We move fast to preserve it.

We also investigate whether a bar or restaurant overserved the drunk driver. Oklahoma’s dram shop law may allow claims against establishments that served visibly intoxicated patrons who then caused injuries. This creates additional sources of recovery beyond the driver’s personal insurance.

No Fee Unless We Win

We take drunk driving accident cases on contingency. You pay nothing upfront and owe no fee unless we recover compensation for you.

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“Wandres Law made what was a difficult time in my life much easier to handle. I appreciate the entire staff for their kindness, professionalism, and concern for my well-being. I highly recommend them!” — Caroline G.

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Types of Drunk Driving Accident Cases We Handle in Broken Arrow

Impaired drivers cause crashes in many different ways. Alcohol slows reaction time, impairs judgment, reduces coordination, and causes tunnel vision. These effects lead to predictable patterns of negligent driving. Our firm handles all types of drunk driving collision cases in the Broken Arrow area.

• Wrong-Way Collisions. Intoxicated drivers frequently enter highways via exit ramps or drift into oncoming traffic. Their impaired state prevents them from recognizing the mistake until it’s too late. These crashes often result in fatalities or catastrophic injuries due to the combined speed of both vehicles. Head-on collisions are among the most deadly accident types.
• Red Light and Stop Sign Violations. Drunk drivers fail to notice traffic signals or misjudge stopping distances. They blow through red lights and stop signs, striking vehicles lawfully crossing the intersection. The failure to brake means these impacts occur at full speed.
• Rear-End Crashes. Impaired drivers following other vehicles fail to recognize slowing or stopped traffic. Their delayed reaction time means they cannot brake in time, rear-ending the vehicle ahead. These crashes can cause severe whiplash, herniated discs, and traumatic brain injuries. Liability in rear-end crashes is usually straightforward when intoxication is proven.
• Single-Vehicle Crashes Injuring Passengers. A drunk driver loses control and strikes a tree, guardrail, or other object. Passengers in the vehicle suffer serious injuries due to the driver’s negligence. Passengers can pursue claims against the intoxicated driver who put them in danger.
• Pedestrian and Cyclist Collisions. Drunk drivers fail to see pedestrians in crosswalks or cyclists sharing the road. Their impaired perception and slowed reactions make it impossible to stop in time. These crashes often prove fatal for the vulnerable road user. Pedestrian accidents caused by impaired drivers are tragically common.
• Hit-and-Run DUI Crashes. Some drunk drivers flee the scene after causing a crash, hoping to avoid arrest. Oklahoma treats hit-and-run as a separate crime, and fleeing the scene can support claims for punitive damages. We work to identify hit-and-run drivers and pursue claims through their insurance or your uninsured motorist coverage.

Oklahoma Legal Requirements for Drunk Driving Accident Claims

Oklahoma provides strong legal remedies for victims of drunk driving crashes. A Broken Arrow car accident attorney can help you navigate these laws and pursue maximum recovery.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases

A drunk driving crash may result in both criminal charges and a civil lawsuit. The criminal case is brought by the state and may result in fines, license suspension, or jail time for the driver. The civil case is brought by the victim to recover compensation for injuries. These cases proceed independently. You do not need to wait for criminal proceedings to conclude before filing a civil claim.

A criminal conviction can help your civil case by establishing that the driver violated the law. But even without a conviction, you can prove negligence and intoxication through other evidence.

Blood Alcohol Concentration Limits

Under Oklahoma Statutes Title 47, Section 11-902, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher. For commercial drivers, the limit is 0.04%. For drivers under 21, any detectable alcohol violates the law. The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office tracks impaired driving statistics and enforcement efforts.

Exceeding these limits establishes negligence per se, meaning the driver violated the law and is automatically considered negligent. This simplifies proving fault in your civil case.

Statute of Limitations

You have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit under Oklahoma Statutes Title 12, Section 95. Wrongful death claims also carry a two-year deadline, typically running from the date of death. Missing these deadlines bars your claim permanently.

Dram Shop Liability

Oklahoma’s dram shop law, Title 37, Section 537, allows victims to sue bars, restaurants, and liquor stores that served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person who then caused injuries. Establishing dram shop liability requires evidence that the establishment knew or should have known the patron was intoxicated and served them anyway.

This creates an additional defendant with potentially substantial insurance coverage. Our firm investigates whether commercial alcohol providers contributed to the crash and pursues claims against them when the evidence supports it.

Punitive Damages

Oklahoma allows punitive damages in cases involving reckless disregard for the safety of others. Drunk driving typically qualifies. Punitive damages are designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct, not just compensate the victim. The Oklahoma Supreme Court has upheld punitive awards in drunk driving cases where the evidence demonstrated willful misconduct.

What Damages Are Recoverable in Broken Arrow Drunk Driving Accident Cases?

Drunk driving crashes often cause catastrophic injuries. Oklahoma law allows victims to pursue comprehensive compensation.

Economic Damages

These cover your financial losses: ambulance transport, emergency room treatment, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, medications, medical equipment, and future care needs. Lost wages include income missed during recovery and diminished earning capacity if injuries prevent returning to your previous work. Property damage covers vehicle replacement and damaged belongings.

Drunk driving injuries tend to be severe because impaired drivers rarely brake before impact. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, and internal organ trauma require extensive treatment. We calculate not just current expenses but projected lifetime costs.

Non-Economic Damages

These compensate for harm without price tags: physical pain, emotional trauma, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and loss of consortium. Drunk driving victims often suffer post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain that fundamentally changes their quality of life.

Oklahoma does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. The value depends on injury severity, permanence, and impact on daily living.

Punitive Damages

Drunk driving demonstrates the reckless disregard for safety that justifies punitive damages under Oklahoma law. These damages punish the wrongdoer and deter others from similar conduct. Courts consider factors including the driver’s blood alcohol level, prior DUI history, and the severity of harm caused.

Punitive damages can substantially increase total recovery. We build cases that support these awards when the evidence warrants them.

Wrongful Death Damages

When drunk driving proves fatal, surviving family members can pursue a wrongful death claim. Recoverable damages include funeral and burial expenses, lost financial support, loss of companionship and guidance, and the pain and suffering the deceased experienced before death. Understanding what compensation is available helps families make informed decisions about seeking justice for wrongful death.

Contact Wandres Law

Drunk drivers make choices. You suffered the consequences. Oklahoma law provides remedies that hold them accountable and compensate you for what they took.

Our Broken Arrow drunk driving accident attorneys offer free consultations to review your case and explain your options. We handle these cases on contingency. No upfront fees. No payment unless we recover for you.

Contact us today to speak with a car accident lawyer in Broken Arrow about your drunk driving accident case.