Average Drunk Driver Settlements in Wyoming – Platte River Injury Law

Each year, hundreds of drivers fall victim to the carelessness of drunk drivers. The Wyoming Department of Transportation reported 788 alcohol-related accidents in 2018.

For those injured in drunk driving accidents, the consequences are often personally and financially costly.

According to the National Safety Council, a car accident costs an average of $4,400 in property damage.

The average economic cost of a serious injury is $93,800.

If a drunk driver injured you or a loved one, a Wyoming personal injury lawyer can help you get compensation for these injuries.

Factors Affecting Your Drunk Driver Settlement Award

It is difficult to calculate an average settlement in drunk driving cases.

This is because settlements depend on the unique facts of each case.

However, several factors can affect how much your claim is worth. These factors include:

• The severity of your injury,
• The cost of your medical care and treatments,
• Your pain and suffering,
• The time you had to take off work, and
• The cost of repairing and replacing your property.

The fault of each driver is crucial in Wyoming. Wyoming is an “at-fault” state.

This means that each driver pays the damages that result from the accidents they cause.

Wyoming also follows a modified comparative negligence rule. Under the Wyoming comparative fault statute, an injured driver will not recover damages if that driver was over 50% at fault.

If the driver is 50% or less at fault, that driver can still recover damages.

However, the total award is reduced by the amount of that driver’s fault.

So, your ability to prove that the other driver was mostly or entirely at fault is essential to maximizing your settlement.

Damages Available in a Drunk Driving Accident

Drivers injured in a car accident can seek economic and non-economic damages.

You can seek compensation for all your economic damages. Economic damages include:

• Past and future medical expenses,
• Past and future lost wages, and
• Property damage.

You may also seek non-economic damages. Non-economic damages include losses that are less quantifiable, such as:

• Mental anguish,
• Pain and suffering, and
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Wyoming drivers might also receive criminal restitution if they are injured by a drunk driver who receives a criminal conviction for their actions.

Wyoming’s victim restitution law allows a court to require a person convicted of a crime to pay for economic injuries suffered by the victims.

This restitution may include costs of the victim’s long-term care. (WY Stat. § 7-9-113)

Maximize Your Settlement Amount

An experienced Wyoming car accident lawyer can help recover compensation for injuries you suffered at the hands of a drunk driver.

How can an injury lawyer help you maximize your settlement award?

The attorneys at Platte River Injury Law are expert negotiators. This skill is essential when discussing a fair settlement with the insurance company.

Our injury lawyers can also help develop your case and prove the fault of the other driver. Proving the fault of the other driver is crucial to maximizing your compensation.

We can also collect and preserve key evidence. Key evidence includes medical bills, photographs of the accident, and witness statements. This evidence can strengthen your claim against the drunk driver.

Our legal team gets results for our clients. Read about one of our recent drunk driving settlements here.

Contact Platte River Injury Law Today

Our seasoned lawyers demand justice for our clients. Let our dedicated lawyers fight for you while you recover from the injuries caused by a drunk driver.

Contact us online or by calling 307-215-9724 to discuss your case today.