If a drunk driver hit you, a drunk driving accident lawyer in Los Angeles can pursue full compensation for your injuries and, in many DUI cases, extra punitive damages. Moe Abdallah Law, P.C. handles the civil claim separately from the criminal case, and you pay nothing unless we win.
If a drunk driver hit you, a drunk driving accident lawyer in Los Angeles can pursue full compensation for your injuries and, in many cases, punitive damages meant to punish the driver for the choice they made. That is what Moe Abdallah Law, P.C. does. A DUI crash is different from an ordinary wreck because the driver broke the law, and that changes what your case can be worth. We investigate the crash, gather the evidence, take on the insurer, and stand between you and the pressure while you heal. You pay us nothing unless we win.
When a drunk driver hurts you, two different cases can run at the same time, and people often confuse them. The criminal case is the state against the driver for breaking the law (People v. the defendant), and driving under the influence is a crime under Vehicle Code section 23152. If the driver is convicted or pleads guilty, the criminal court can order restitution, which is money paid to you. That sounds helpful, but restitution is usually far less than the full value of a serious injury claim, and it is not designed to cover your pain, your future care, or your lost earning power. Your civil claim is your own lawsuit for compensation, and it is where you recover the real value of what this crash cost you. A criminal conviction or plea can actually strengthen your civil case, because it helps prove the driver was at fault.
Most car accident cases pay only compensatory damages, meaning money for your losses. A drunk driving case can be different. California law allows punitive damages when someone acts with a conscious disregard for the safety of others (Civil Code section 3294), and courts have held that driving drunk can meet that bar. In Taylor v. Superior Court (1979), the California Supreme Court ruled that getting behind the wheel while intoxicated can justify punitive damages, because the driver knew the danger and did it anyway. Punitive damages are extra money on top of your compensation, meant to punish the driver and deter others. Not every case qualifies, and we look closely at the facts, the blood-alcohol evidence, and the driver's history to decide whether to pursue them.
Call 911 and get checked out even if you feel "okay." Adrenaline hides injuries, and a gap in treatment is the first thing insurers use to shrink a claim.
Get the police report number and note whether officers tested the driver. That evidence of intoxication supports both the criminal case and your civil claim, so preserve everything you can.
Do not give a recorded statement or take any offer before you speak with a lawyer. Anything you say can be used to cut your payout. The consultation is free.
Even when their driver was drunk, the at-fault insurer is not on your side. Its job is to pay you as little as it can, and a possible punitive-damages exposure makes it fight even harder. It will call within days sounding helpful, ask for a recorded statement, request a broad medical authorization, and float a fast, low settlement while you are still hurting. It may claim you were partly at fault, that your injuries were already there, or that the criminal restitution should be enough. We shut those tactics down. We handle every conversation so you never have to, we build the medical and liability evidence into a demand they cannot lowball, and we prepare each case as if it will go to trial. That is exactly why insurers take represented clients seriously and pay more.
California gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal-injury lawsuit (California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). Driving under the influence is a crime under Vehicle Code § 23152, and a conviction can support your civil case. California also allows punitive damages for conduct showing conscious disregard for others' safety (Civil Code § 3294), and Taylor v. Superior Court (1979) held that drunk driving can justify them. California's dram-shop rule is narrow: Civil Code § 1714 generally immunizes those who furnish alcohol, with limited exceptions such as serving an obviously intoxicated minor (Bus. & Prof. Code § 25602.1). California follows pure comparative negligence, so you can recover even if partly at fault, with your award reduced by your share (Li v. Yellow Cab Co.).
You work directly with Attorney Moe Abdallah, who takes your case personally, fights the insurance company, and keeps you posted by call and text at every step.
You pay nothing upfront and nothing at all unless we recover for you. The consultation is always free.
We build every case for trial: a thorough investigation, the right experts, and hard negotiation that gets results.
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee, so our fee comes only from the compensation we recover for you. If we don't win, you owe us nothing. The consultation is always free.
Usually two years from the date of the crash under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Don't wait for the criminal case to finish, since that runs on its own timeline. Call as soon as you can so evidence can be saved.
The criminal case punishes the driver, and it may order restitution, but restitution is usually far less than the full value of a serious injury and doesn't cover things like your pain or future care. Your civil claim is how you recover the real cost of what happened to you. The two run separately.
Often, yes. California allows punitive damages for conduct showing conscious disregard for others' safety, and courts have held drunk driving can qualify under Taylor v. Superior Court. These are extra damages on top of your compensation. We review the facts and the DUI evidence to decide whether to pursue them in your case.
Usually no. California law generally protects those who furnish alcohol from liability, with narrow exceptions such as serving an obviously intoxicated minor. Most drunk driving claims are against the driver and their insurer. We'll look at the facts to see if any exception applies to your case.
If it was minor with no injuries, you can sometimes handle it yourself. But a DUI crash often means serious injuries and possible punitive damages, and the insurer fights harder because of it. A lawyer usually puts more money in your pocket even after fees. Not sure? Call us and we'll tell you straight, free.
No. You are not required to give the at-fault driver's insurer a recorded statement, and it's used to twist your words and shrink your claim. Decline politely and don't answer their questions. Call us first and let us handle the conversation for you.
Usually not, at least not before your treatment is done. Once you accept, you cannot reopen the claim, and a fast offer is almost always less than your injuries are worth, especially when punitive damages may be in play. Let us review the offer for free before you sign anything.
You can still recover. California follows pure comparative negligence, so your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault rather than barred entirely. Insurers overstate your share to pay less, and we push back with evidence.
Yes. Adrenaline masks pain right after a wreck, and injuries like whiplash or a concussion can show up days later. A gap between the crash and treatment is the number one thing insurers use to deny a claim, so get checked out and keep every record. Then call us.
It depends on your injuries and whether the criminal case affects the timing. A simple case can settle in a few months, while a serious-injury case takes longer because we won't settle before your prognosis is clear. We keep you posted at every step so you always know where things stand.
Yes, Se Habla Español. Our team will help you in the language you feel most comfortable with.
Authoritative resources: California Courts, self-help for injury claims · Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1, 2-year deadline · California DMV · California Office of Traffic Safety, crash data
When you call Moe Abdallah Law, you work directly with your attorney and get straight answers, not a call center. Moe takes on the insurance companies and fights for the maximum, and he keeps you updated at every step. The consultation is free and you pay nothing unless he wins.
Real recoveries from an attorney who takes your case personally and fights for the maximum.
Rear-ended by a driver who fled with no police report, and other firms turned her down. Moe opened an uninsured-motorist claim, proved she could not have been at fault, and secured the full policy limit.
Broke his sternum and had no insurance of his own, and his prior attorney ignored him. Moe took his calls day and night and recovered a settlement that covered his hospital bills and future treatment.
Cut off on the freeway and left with back and neck pain over four months of treatment. Moe secured the full policy limit for his pain and suffering, and his totaled car was reimbursed.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and depends on its own facts.
Attorney Moe represented me with nothing but care and diligence during my case, he got me the results that I needed while I was going through a hard time.
Attorney Moe was attentive to all my concerns and issues. He walked me through the entire process of my case and made things easy to understand. I cannot recommend him enough!
I would definitely recommend this firm to anyone looking for reliable legal guidance.
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