Santa Cruz County Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

If you were injured by a drunk driver in Santa Cruz County, you may be dealing with far more than a typical car accident claim. Drunk driving crashes often involve severe injuries, reckless conduct, criminal charges, and life-changing consequences for innocent people. They also create a deep sense of anger because the collision never should have happened in the first place.

At The Hassell Law Group, we represent people who have been seriously injured by negligent drivers throughout the Bay Area and Central Coast. If you are searching for a Santa Cruz County drunk driving accident lawyer near you, our legal team is ready to help you understand your rights, investigate the crash, and fight for the full compensation you deserve.

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Why Drunk Driving Accident Cases Are Different

Any serious crash can cause devastating harm, but DUI collisions often involve especially dangerous actions. Alcohol-impaired driving affects judgment, reaction time, vision, coordination, and the ability to safely control a vehicle. California law makes it unlawful to drive under the influence of alcohol, to drive under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs, or to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more in most standard DUI cases. Those prohibitions are set out in California Vehicle Code section 23152.

That matters in a personal injury case because drunk driving often supports a powerful reckless driving claim and may also strengthen the argument that the insurer should not be allowed to minimize what happened. In the right case, evidence of intoxication can also support a claim for punitive damages under California law when the drunk driver’s conduct amounts to malice or conscious disregard of the safety of others. California Civil Code section 3294 governs punitive damages.

Why Choose The Hassell Law Group for a Santa Cruz County DUI Crash Injury Claim?

The Hassell Law Group already has a dedicated San Francisco drunk driving accident lawyers page and a related article on How Do I Sue a Drunk Driver in California?, which reflect the firm’s expertise in handling drunk driving cases resulting in serious injury. Our attorneys have more than 90 years of combined legal experience and a strong record of results in serious injury cases.

People choose The Hassell Law Group because we offer:

• More than 90 years of combined legal experience
• A winning record of top results in serious injury claims
• Zealous representation against insurance companies
• Personalized attorney attention
• No fee unless we recover compensation for you

If your crash happened in Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Capitola, Aptos, Soquel, Scotts Valley, or elsewhere in Santa Cruz County, our team is ready to help.

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Santa Cruz County Roads Present Real DUI Crash Risks

Santa Cruz County has a mix of highways, coastal roads, rural routes, and tourist-heavy corridors that can become especially dangerous when an impaired driver gets behind the wheel. The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission’s Rural Highways Safety Plan identifies DUI-related crashes as part of the county’s crash profile analysis on rural highways, alongside severe-injury and fatal crash concerns.

That local context matters because drunk driving crashes in Santa Cruz County may happen on:

• Highway 1
• Highway 17
• Freedom Boulevard
• Soquel Avenue and Soquel Drive
• Mission Street and Ocean Street corridors
• Rural and coastal roads with limited lighting or higher travel speeds

Our firm’s existing Santa Cruz personal injury lawyers page already reflects the firm’s Santa Cruz County service area and our legal team’s knowledge across a wide range of personal injury practice areas.

Common Types of Drunk Driving Accidents

An intoxicated driver can cause many kinds of serious crashes, including:

Rear-End Collisions

Impaired drivers often fail to brake in time because alcohol slows reaction time and affects attention.

Head-On Collisions

A drunk driver may drift into oncoming traffic, drive the wrong way, or lose directional control.

T-Bone and Intersection Crashes

Many DUI crashes happen when an impaired driver runs a red light, ignores a stop sign, or misjudges traffic at an intersection.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents

Drunk drivers may fail to see people in crosswalks, cyclists on the shoulder, or riders sharing the road.

Hit-and-Run DUI Crashes

Some impaired drivers flee the scene, which can create additional insurance and uninsured motorist issues.

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Who Can Be Held Liable After a Drunk Driving Crash?

In most cases, the drunk driver is the primary liable party. But the full picture can be more complex.

Potentially responsible parties may include:

• The intoxicated driver
• The owner of the vehicle, in some circumstances
• An employer, if the driver was working at the time
• A third party in limited situations involving negligent entrustment or other separate wrongdoing

California generally protects social hosts from civil liability for furnishing alcohol, and California’s dram shop rules are limited. California Civil Code section 1714 and Business and Professions Code section 25602 generally provide that the furnishing of alcohol is not the proximate cause of injuries resulting from intoxication, with narrow statutory exceptions. One important exception exists for a person licensed to sell alcohol who furnishes it to an obviously intoxicated minor; Business and Professions Code section 25602.1 addresses that situation.

That means many DUI injury cases remain focused on the drunk driver, the available insurance, and the full scope of damages.

What Evidence Can Help Prove a Drunk Driving Injury Claim?

A strong DUI crash case may involve many kinds of evidence, including:

• Police reports
• DUI arrest information
• Officer observations
• Field sobriety test information
• Breath or blood test results
• Witness statements
• Evidence from a Bar or restaurant where relevant
• Photos of the scene and vehicle damage
• Surveillance or dashcam footage
• Medical records and proof of injuries

The sooner this evidence is preserved, the better. That is one reason it is smart to speak with an attorney quickly.

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Common Injuries in Drunk Driving Accident Cases

DUI crashes often happen at high speed or with violent impact, which can lead to serious and permanent injuries such as:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Concussions
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Internal injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Facial trauma
• Severe lacerations and scarring
• Emotional distress and trauma

If your case involves a major head injury or spine injury, you can also review the firm’s brain injury lawyers and spinal cord injury lawyers pages.

What Compensation May Be Available?

A Santa Cruz County drunk driving accident claim may include compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. Depending on the facts, you may be able to recover for:

• Emergency medical treatment
• Hospitalization
• Surgery
• Rehabilitation and therapy
• Prescription medication costs
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Permanent disability
• Scarring and disfigurement

In the right case, punitive damages may also be available when California law’s standards are met. That is one reason DUI crashes often deserve especially careful legal review.

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What to Do After a Drunk Driving Crash in Santa Cruz County

The steps you take after the collision can make a major difference in both your own physical recovery from injury and your legal claim.

1. Call Law Enforcement

A police investigation is often especially important in DUI cases because it can document signs of impairment, arrest activity, witness observations, and scene evidence.

2. Get Medical Care Immediately

Your health comes first. Seeking prompt medical treatment also helps document the injuries tied to the crash.

3. Preserve Evidence

Take photographs and/or videos of the vehicles, roadway, debris, injuries, skid marks, traffic controls, and anything else that may help show how the crash happened.

4. Get Witness Information

Independent witnesses can be very important, especially if they observed erratic driving before the crash.

5. Be Careful Giving Statements to Insurance Companies

Even when the drunk driver seems obviously at fault, insurers may still try to dispute the extent of your injuries or the value of your claim. It’s best to speak with a lawyer before you speak with any insurance company, even your own, and certainly before giving a recorded statement.

6. Speak With an Experienced Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

DUI crashes can involve criminal and civil issues happening at the same time. It’s important to consult with an attorney to understand your legal rights and options.

What If the Drunk Driver Also Fled the Scene or Had No Insurance?

That situation can make the case even more complicated, but it does not necessarily eliminate recovery options. An accident with a hit-and-run or uninsured drunk driver may trigger a claim under your own uninsured motorist coverage, depending on the facts and the policy. The Hassell Law Group’s San Francisco uninsured motorist lawyers page and What Happens When You Are Hit by an Uninsured Driver give a broad overview of these types of cases.

How The Hassell Law Group Can Help

When we handle a Santa Cruz County drunk driving accident case, we may help by:

• Investigating how the crash happened
• Securing police reports, body cam footage, witness statements, and available evidence
• Identifying all insurance and liability issues
• Gathering medical documentation
• Determining the full value of your claim
• Negotiating aggressively with insurers
• Preparing the case for litigation when necessary

You can also learn more about the firm on our home page, about page, attorneys page, reviews page, and results page.

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Speak With a Santa Cruz County Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Today

If you were injured by an alcohol or drug impaired driver in Santa Cruz County, do not assume the insurance company will treat your claim fairly just because alcohol or drugs were involved. These cases might seem straightforward, but often they are not. They often involve criminal charges, a separate criminal case, civil law claims, and potentially various insurance companies. An injured claimant can benefit from having skilled legal representation handle case strategy, negotiations, and the legal pursuit of compensation.

The Hassell Law Group is here to review your case, explain your options, and advocate for the compensation you deserve. If you need an experienced Santa Cruz County drunk driving accident lawyer, contact us today at (831) 508-8819 for a free consultation.

There is no fee unless we recover compensation for you.

FAQ: Santa Cruz County Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

Can I sue a drunk driver who caused my injuries in California?

Yes. If a drunk driver caused your crash and injuries, you may bring a personal injury claim for your losses, and in some cases punitive damages may also be available under California law.

What counts as drunk driving under California law?

California Vehicle Code section 23152 prohibits driving under the influence of alcohol, under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs, and driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more in standard DUI cases.

Can a bar or restaurant be sued after a drunk driving crash?

Usually not in California. State law generally limits dram shop and social host liability, with narrow exceptions, including certain cases involving service to an obviously intoxicated minor by a licensed provider.

What if the drunk driver fled the scene?

You may still have options, including a personal injury claim if the driver is identified and insured, or, you may be able to pursue an uninsured motorist claim under your own auto policy if the drunk driver is not insured. The firm’s uninsured motorist content is a good related internal resource.

What damages can I recover after a DUI accident?

Depending on the facts, you may recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, future care, emotional distress, and other losses. In some cases, punitive damages may also be pursued.

How much does it cost to hire The Hassell Law Group?

The firm handles these cases on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no attorney fee unless compensation is recovered for you.

The general information provided on this website should not be considered legal advice and does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice, you should consult directly with an attorney. If you contact us by telephone, email, letter, or by contact form submission through this website, please note that such communication does not create or constitute an attorney-client relationship. We cannot act as your attorney until we are hired as your attorney by a formal written agreement.