Syracuse DUI Lawyer Fighting for Victims’ Rights

Drunk drivers cause real harm. If you were hit by an impaired driver in Syracuse or anywhere in Onondaga County, you have the right to seek full compensation under New York law.

At Stanley Law Offices, our Syracuse DUI lawyers help victims recover damages for medical bills, lost income, pain, and long-term injuries. We’ve fought for injured clients across Downtown, Eastwood, Westside, and near major roads like I-81 and I-690.

We act fast, build strong legal claims, and hold negligent drivers financially responsible. Our goal is simple: protect your future through experienced, aggressive representation.

Injured by a Drunk Driver in Syracuse? Know Your Legal Options

After a DUI accident, you have a legal path to recover financial losses. Civil law in New York allows injured victims to bring a lawsuit directly against the impaired driver. This action is separate from any criminal prosecution and focuses on securing compensation.

• Personal Injury Claims: Victims can pursue damages for medical bills, income loss, and emotional distress without waiting for a conviction.
• Wrongful Death Claims: If a loved one died in the crash, close family members or estate representatives can file a civil claim to cover funeral expenses, loss of future earnings, and emotional harm.
• Timing Is Critical: Evidence like police reports, BAC levels, and witness statements can fade fast. Taking action early protects your claim.

Our Syracuse car accident lawyers know how insurance companies try to avoid paying full value. We respond with experienced negotiation and complete trial readiness.

Speak with a local DWI accident attorney today. Your case review is free, and there’s no fee unless we win.

How Our Lawyers Hold Drunk Drivers Accountable for Victims?

In DUI cases, results come from preparation. From day one, we investigate thoroughly, identify every liable party, and prepare each case for trial, even if it never goes to court. Here’s how our drunk driving attorneys build a winning case:

• Immediate Evidence Collection: We secure crash reports, BAC test results, scene photos, and witness statements immediately after your DUI accident. This evidence proves liability, strengthens your case, and prevents insurers from denying fault. If the driver has a history of drunk driving, we include that pattern as part of our claim.
• Identify All Liable Parties: We investigate whether a bar, restaurant, or social host overserved the impaired driver. If so, we file a Dram Shop claim to hold them financially accountable. Every legally responsible party is added to your case to increase your potential compensation.
• Strategic Legal Pressure & Negotiation: We build every DUI case as if it’s going to trial. This forces insurers to negotiate seriously and often leads to faster, larger settlements for our clients.
• Courtroom Experience: When insurers refuse to pay fair compensation, we take them to court. Our Syracuse trial lawyers have successfully litigated DUI injury cases involving brain injuries, spinal trauma, and permanent disability.

One person’s reckless decision shouldn’t leave you with the burden. We hold impaired drivers accountable, so you can recover what they took from you.

Compensation Our Syracuse DUI Accident Lawyers Can Recover for You

After a DUI accident, your losses may go far beyond vehicle damage or hospital bills. Our Syracuse DUI lawyers help victims file civil claims that reflect the full scope of your injuries – physical, emotional, and financial. Here are 6 categories of compensation you may be able to recover:

Medical Bills and Rehabilitation Costs

We pursue full reimbursement for emergency care, medical bills, hospital stays, surgeries, prescriptions, and ongoing rehab. Using treatment records and provider documentation, we build a case that includes both current and future costs.

Lost Wages and Reduced Earning Capacity

If the crash forced you to miss work or limited your ability to earn, we calculate income loss based on your wage history and job status. Whether you’re salaried, hourly, or self-employed, your earnings are part of your claim.

Know your case’s worth and understand how lost wages factor into your total compensation.

Pain, Suffering, and Emotional Distress

Drunk driving survivors often face lasting trauma, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain. While non-economic damages are harder to quantify, we work with professionals to document your suffering and present it effectively in court or settlement talks.

Property Damage

From total vehicle loss to damaged personal items, we gather repair estimates, invoices, and photographic evidence to recover property-related costs.

Punitive Damages in Severe DUI Cases

In crashes involving high BAC levels (above 0.18), repeat offenses, or extreme recklessness, New York law may allow for punitive damages. These penalties punish the driver, not compensate you, but can increase the total value of your case.

Wrongful Death Claims for Families

If a DUI crash resulted in the death of a loved one, our attorneys help families file civil claims for funeral costs, lost financial support, and emotional grief. We handle these wrongful death cases with care and legal precision.

Evidence Our Syracuse, NY DUI Lawyers Use to Win Cases

Knowing what you can recover is one thing. Proving it is another, and that’s where strong evidence comes in. Our legal team builds each case using documentation that proves fault, shows the crash’s full impact, and strengthens your position in negotiations or court.

Here are the five key types of evidence we rely on:

• Medical Records & Bills: We use hospital records, diagnostic tests, and provider notes to show the extent of your injuries and connect them directly to the crash. This documentation supports your claim for both current and future medical costs.
• BAC Results & Field Sobriety Tests: Blood alcohol content (BAC) test results and field sobriety tests help establish the driver’s level of impairment, even if no criminal conviction occurs. These are critical in proving negligence under civil law.
• Crash Scene Photos & Vehicle Damage: Images of the crash scene, vehicle damage, and roadway conditions help us visually reconstruct what happened and support your version of events.
• Police Reports: Officer reports often include key observations, citations, and initial fault findings. We use them to support liability and strengthen claim accuracy.
• Eyewitness Testimony: Statements from neutral witnesses add independent validation to your account. We collect, preserve, and present these testimonies when they help confirm liability.

Proving Liability in Syracuse Drunk Driving Accident Cases

To win a civil DUI injury case in New York, a qualified lawyer must prove that the drunk driver was legally at fault. This is done by establishing four key legal elements:

• Duty of Care: Every driver has a legal obligation to operate a vehicle safely and avoid impaired driving.
• Breach of Duty: Driving under the influence violates that legal obligation and is considered automatic negligence in civil court.
• Causation: We must prove that the driver’s intoxication directly caused your crash-related injuries, not just that they were drinking.
• Damages: Your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and emotional harm must be clearly documented and directly linked to the crash.

In some cases, New York’s comparative negligence rule may apply. If you’re found partially at fault, your compensation can be reduced, but not eliminated. Our job is to minimize any blame assigned to you and prove that the drunk driver was the primary cause.

Holding Bars and Restaurants Accountable in Syracuse DUI Cases

In some DUI crash cases, the driver isn’t the only one responsible. Under New York’s Dram Shop Law, we may pursue claims against bars, restaurants, or social hosts who illegally served alcohol – especially to minors or visibly intoxicated people.

These third-party claims can increase your total compensation, especially if the drunk driver was uninsured or underinsured.

A bar or host may be held liable if they:

• Served someone who appeared clearly intoxicated.
• Failed to check ID before serving alcohol to a minor.
• Ignored the prior DUI history of a known regular.
• Continued serving someone showing obvious signs of impairment.

If you know where the driver was drinking before the crash, tell your DUI car crash attorney; it could strengthen your case.

Dealing With Insurance Companies After a Syracuse DUI Accident

Insurance companies often act fast after a DUI crash, especially when they know their driver is at fault. Their goal is to limit payouts, not protect your interests.
We protect your case by handling all insurance communication for you. That includes filing claims, responding to adjusters, and negotiating the full compensation you’re owed.

Things to Do (and Not Do) After a DUI Crash:

• Document Everything: Save medical records, repair bills, photos, and written notes. The more you preserve, the stronger your claim.
• Contact a Syracuse DUI Lawyer Before Contacting Insurers: Once you talk to them, you risk giving up leverage, intentionally or not.
• Don’t Give Recorded Statements: They’re designed to extract information that reduces your claim value.
• Don’t Accept the First Settlement Offer: It’s rarely fair. We’ll evaluate it and fight for more if needed.

Recovering Compensation After a Hit-and-Run DUI Accident in Syracuse

When a drunk driver flees the scene or has no insurance, you may still be covered through your own auto insurance.

New York allows DUI hit-and-run victims to file Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) claims. These are handled by your own insurer and apply when the at-fault driver can’t be identified or held accountable.

However, strict notification deadlines usually apply between 30 to 90 days from the date of the crash. Missing that window can disqualify your claim.

Steps to Take Immediately After a Hit-and-Run DUI Crash:

• Call the police right away: A police report is required for any UM claim.
• Request a copy of the crash report: This will support both your legal and insurance claims.
• Notify your insurer as soon as possible: Early reporting helps meet the deadline and prevents disputes.
• Start a UM/UIM claim and gather proof of all losses: Save medical bills, vehicle repair estimates, and lost wage records.

Many victims assume they’re out of options, but New York’s UM laws protect you, even if the driver disappears.

Overcoming Challenges After a Syracuse DUI Crash

Even strong DUI claims can face roadblocks like denied liability, delayed medical symptoms, or low insurance offers. Our legal team uses a proactive strategy to overcome these common barriers and protect your right to full compensation. Here is how we handle it:

• Disputed liability: We secure crash reports, witness statements, and expert input to prove fault even when the driver flees or blames others.
• Hidden or delayed injuries: We coordinate with medical professionals to track symptom progression and clearly connect it to the crash.
• Insurance stalling or lowball offers: We build a complete claim package and apply legal pressure, negotiating from strength, not desperation.

Why Victims Trust Our Law Firm for Syracuse DUI Accident Cases?

We don’t just file claims, we build cases designed to secure higher settlements and trial awards. Every decision we make is aimed at increasing the value of your recovery. What sets us apart:

• You speak directly with your attorney, not a case manager: Clients appreciate knowing who’s handling their case and getting real answers fast.
• We’ve represented DUI victims across every part of Syracuse: From Downtown to I-81, we know how local courts and insurers operate and how to win here.
• We don’t just process claims, we build relationships: Many of our clients refer friends and family because they felt heard, supported, and respected.
• You pay nothing unless we recover money for you: No hourly billing. No upfront costs. Just a clear, honest representation.

It’s not just about legal strategy; it’s about trust, communication, and standing up for you when it counts.

Speak With a Syracuse DUI Accident Lawyer Today

If you were bodily injured by a drunk driver, don’t delay. Early legal action strengthens your claim, preserves critical evidence, and prevents insurance mistakes that could cost you later.

The sooner you talk to a Syracuse car accident attorney, the better your chance of recovering the full compensation you deserve. At Stanley Law Offices, we move fast to protect your rights and build a strong foundation from day one.

FAQs About Syracuse DUI Accident Claims

Start Your Free Case Review With Stanley Law Offices Right Away

Your consultation is free, and it’s the first step to financial recovery. We’ll listen to your story, evaluate your options, and explain what happens next.
Speak directly with a Syracuse DUI lawyer, not a staff member. Your consultation is free, confidential, and available 24/7.

No fees unless we win your case.

Call now at 1-800-608-3333, chat live, or submit your contact form – your recovery starts here.