Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Philadelphia
Your Right to Safe Roadways
Across the United States, hundreds of thousands of people are injured or killed in drunk driving crashes.
Behind the numbers, there is a human being and a story of tragedy and loss. When a motorist chooses to drink and drive, he has made a conscious decision to put the lives of other people on the roadway in imminent danger. A car or truck, in the hands of a drunk driver, is a potentially deadly weapon.
The Difference Between Criminal and Civil Proceedings
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed by a drunk driver, you have been the victim of a crime. A drunk driver who injures another person in a car crash will be subject to criminal prosecution and potentially a jail sentence and other penalties, such as loss of his or her driver’s license. But there is more. The drunk driver may also be held accountable in the civil justice system for monetary damages for personal injuries caused in the crash.
While there is some overlap, criminal and civil proceedings have different purposes and achieve different goals. On the one hand, in a criminal case, the primary focus is to punish the drunk driver for his crime, deter future wrongdoing and to impose penalties that may include significant monetary fines and even jail time. While the Court may order restitution to the crime victim, the general purpose of restitution is not to make the victim whole again, but only to compensate the victim for certain expenses directly related to the crime.
In the civil justice system, a personal injury lawsuit focuses on completely compensating the victim for injuries and losses suffered in the car crash. Civil damages recoverable by the injured party may include damages and losses that are not covered by an order of restitution, including payment for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress and even punitive damages, which may be imposed to punish the drunk driver and deter others from engaging in similar misconduct.
Your Attorney
Mr. Privitera is the founder of The Privitera Law Firm LLC and concentrates his practice on the representation of catastrophically injured victims.
Mr. Privitera has been repeatedly recognized throughout the legal community for his skill and expertise, work ethic, preparation and dedication to his clients in personal injury and wrongful death matters. Mr. Privitera has earned the respect of the legal community, has extensive experience, a sterling reputation for handling significant personal injury and wrongful death cases and proven track record of success and outstanding results.