For most of us living in Missouri, we understand that if we choose to drink we should not drive. Society has ingrained this value to such an extent it is considered common sense these days. Generally, it is understood that if a driver chooses to drive in Missouri with a blood alcohol content above .08, the driver can be fined or imprisoned and can injure or kill someone.

What is unfamiliar to most Missouri residents is Missouri's escalating laws and penalties for driving while intoxicated (DWI). The state of Missouri recognized that if a driver chooses to drink and drive with a blood alcohol content of over .15, this can be termed "excess intoxication" or "gross intoxication." While this may carry heavier criminal penalties for the driver, this information can also assist those individuals who have been injured or killed by a drunk driver in Missouri.

When considering punitive damages or the liability of a negligent driver, the Court can, and in most cases will, consider the driver's blood alcohol content at the time of the accident. This assumes that the attorney has preserved the proper evidence and hired the necessary experts to get this evidence into court. Without the proper foundation, the defense can easily keep evidence of the driver's blood alcohol content out of court.

Recently, a Missouri court awarded $546,948.26 to one of our clients, when she was injured in an automobile collision, where the other driver chose to drive her vehicle with excessive blood alcohol content above .15. This was the highest judgment ever achieved in Iron County. In this case, we were able to submit the evidence for the Court's consideration, since we had hired the proper experts and preserved the evidence. Fortunately, our client was only injured and not killed by the drunk driver.

If you have been injured or had a loved one killed by a drunk driver, you may have a right to obtain compensation for your injuries or losses. You will need the right attorney to help navigate you through the legal system and ensure that the Court hears all evidence of your case. We are here to help and ensure that your case is handled by an experienced team of attorneys, call the firm for more information today.