According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, the Knoxville Police Department and Knox County Sheriff’s Office arrested 22 motorists for driving under the influence (DUI) over Memorial Day weekend in May 2011.  These officers responded to a total of 76 car crashes throughout the weekend, some of which involved alcohol.  Fortunately, there were no reported traffic accident fatalities.

Memorial Day weekend often includes parties and get-togethers where friends and family gather to celebrate a long weekend and the beginning of summer. At these events, alcohol is frequently served.  Further, many people drive after consuming alcohol.  In Tennessee, a driver can be convicted of DUI if he or she operates a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content above .08. If you have been hit and injured by a drunk driver in Knoxville or Knox County, call Nahon, Saharovich, and Trotz (“NST Law”) at 865-684-1000 or 1-800-LAW-4004 to discuss your case with one of our experienced auto accident attorneys. Driving under the influence is one way a driver can be negligent and liable in a car crash, and the Tennessee car accident attorneys at NST Law can prove a defendant driver violated Tennessee law.  For example, NST Law can retain a toxicologist to prove a driver’s blood alcohol content was over the legal limit at the time of the car accident.

In a drunk driving car accident, a victim can suffer severe injuries, such as spinal cord damage, broken arms, broken legs, brain trauma, and neck injury.  Besides the obvious physical pain a victim can experience, the victim can suffer financially and emotionally.  Injuries can require expensive surgeries, medical procedures, physical therapy, and medication.  A recovery process can take years to complete.  In addition, a victim can be forced to miss work or be unable to fully perform his or her job functions.  These scenarios can lead to lost wages and a loss of earning potential.  At NST Law, we can utilize the services of medical and vocational economic experts to document past medical bills, project future medical expenses, and compute lost wages.  These injuries and financial obligations may also bring about anxiety, emotional stress, pain, and suffering.  Our car accident attorneys fight for clients to recover damages for the mental anguish they experience as a result of being injured in a car accident.  While our lawyers aggressively pursue damages for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and permanent disability, NST Law can also seek punitive damages awarded against the defendant driver if he or she is convicted of DUI.  Tennessee courts award punitive damages to punish a defendant and deter members of the community from engaging in certain conduct, such as drinking and driving.  NST lawyers have knowledge of these punitive damages laws and understand how to pursue them.

For a free initial consultation on your car accident case, call a Knoxville auto accident attorney at NST Law at 865-684-1000 or 1-800-LAW-4004.  Our car accident attorneys can answer your questions and help determine what your next step should be.  With over twenty years experience handling drunk driving car accidents in Knoxville, you can trust Team NST has the resources to effectively handle your case or lawsuit.