Glendale Drunk Driving Accident Injury Lawyer

Your injuries. Our fight. Your win.

When Impaired Drivers Shatter Lives: Seeking Justice in Glendale

It was an ordinary day that turned extraordinary in the worst possible way. Perhaps you were driving home along Glendale Avenue when a drunk driver swerved into your lane. Maybe you were stopped at a traffic light on 59th Avenue when an impaired driver rear-ended you at full speed. Or possibly you were traveling on Loop 101 through Glendale when someone who chose to drink and drive forever changed your life.

Drunk driving accidents in Glendale are not just accidents—they’re entirely preventable tragedies caused by someone’s conscious decision to put others at risk. The injuries they cause tend to be more severe, the emotional trauma more profound, and the sense of injustice more acute.

As a Glendale drunk driving accident injury lawyer with over 23 years of experience, I’ve helped countless victims navigate the aftermath of these devastating crashes. More importantly, I understand the unique legal opportunities and challenges these cases present, and I know how to help you secure the full compensation and justice you deserve.

The Devastating Impact of Drunk Driving Accidents in Glendale

Drunk driving accidents in Glendale and throughout Arizona create distinct challenges that set them apart from other types of collisions:

More Severe Injuries: Impaired drivers often fail to brake before impact, resulting in high-speed collisions that cause catastrophic injuries including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, complex fractures, internal organ damage, and severe lacerations.

Greater Emotional Trauma: Being injured by someone who made the conscious choice to drive impaired often causes significant psychological effects, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and driving phobias that can persist long after physical injuries have healed.

Complex Insurance Issues: These cases frequently involve multiple insurance policies, including the drunk driver’s liability coverage, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and potentially third-party liability (such as bars or restaurants that over-served the driver).

Criminal and Civil Proceedings: Unlike most car accidents, drunk driving crashes typically result in criminal charges against the driver, creating a parallel legal process that can both help and complicate your civil injury claim.

The True Cost of Drunk Driving Injuries

The impact of being injured by a drunk driver extends far beyond the immediate medical bills:

Long-Term Medical Needs: Many victims require ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, and sometimes lifelong care for permanent disabilities.

Lost Income and Career Impacts: Serious injuries often mean extended time away from work, reduced earning capacity, or even the inability to return to your previous occupation.

Home and Vehicle Modifications: Injuries may necessitate expensive modifications to accommodate mobility limitations.

Psychological Treatment: Therapy and counseling are often needed to address the emotional trauma of being victimized by a drunk driver.

Pain and Suffering: The physical pain and emotional distress caused by these preventable crashes deserve significant compensation.

Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Many victims find their ability to participate in hobbies, family activities, and daily pleasures significantly diminished.

As your Glendale drunk driving accident injury lawyer, I fight to ensure all these impacts are fully accounted for in your compensation.

The Unique Legal Aspects of Drunk Driving Accident Cases

Drunk driving accident cases differ from standard car accident claims in several important ways that can significantly affect your recovery:

Punitive Damages

In most car accident cases, victims can only recover compensatory damages—money intended to make them “whole” again. But in drunk driving cases, Arizona law allows for punitive damages—additional compensation specifically designed to punish the drunk driver’s egregious conduct and deter similar behavior.

These punitive damages can substantially increase your overall compensation, but they require specific legal strategies to secure. As your Glendale drunk driving accident injury lawyer, I know how to effectively pursue these additional damages on your behalf.

Criminal Case Coordination

When a drunk driver injures someone in Glendale, they typically face criminal charges such as DUI, aggravated assault, or even vehicular assault. This criminal case proceeds separately from your civil injury claim but can significantly impact it.

I coordinate with prosecutors, monitor the criminal proceedings, and strategically time your civil case to maximize the benefits of any criminal conviction or plea. Evidence from the criminal case—including blood alcohol tests, police reports, and testimony—can be powerful tools in your civil claim.

Dram Shop Liability

Arizona’s dram shop laws allow injured victims to hold bars, restaurants, and liquor stores accountable if they served alcohol to someone who was already obviously intoxicated or under 21, and that person then caused an accident.

As your Glendale drunk driving accident injury lawyer, I thoroughly investigate whether the driver was served alcohol by an establishment that should have cut them off, potentially giving you an additional source of compensation.

The Lien-Based Care Trap After Drunk Driving Accidents

After being injured by a drunk driver in Glendale, you may be approached by attorneys or medical providers suggesting you seek treatment from chiropractors who work on a “lien basis”—meaning they agree to wait for payment until your case settles.

While this might seem helpful, it’s actually a trap that can severely damage your case value. When you see a chiropractor instead of using your private insurance or AHCCCS (Arizona’s Medicaid program) to visit appropriate medical specialists, you’re sending a powerful message to insurance companies: your injuries aren’t serious.

This is particularly problematic for drunk driving accident victims, whose injuries are typically severe and require specialized care from neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, trauma specialists, and rehabilitation experts—not chiropractors.

Insurance adjusters are trained to view chiropractic treatment skeptically, often considering it a sign of claim-building rather than necessary medical care. They’ll even map out all the chiropractors between your home and the one you visited, using this to argue you were directed there by an attorney rather than seeking legitimate care.

A Different Approach: How I Represent Glendale Drunk Driving Accident Victims As A Glendale Drunk Driving Accident Injury Lawyer

I’m Garrick McFadden, and my approach to representing Glendale drunk driving accident injury lawyer clients is fundamentally different from what you’ll find at large advertising firms.

As a graduate of USC Gould School of Law with extensive trial experience across Maricopa County, I bring both education and practical courtroom knowledge to your case. But what truly sets my representation apart is my commitment to your best interests—even when that means challenging conventional practices in personal injury law.

Unlike many firms that immediately refer clients to chiropractors working on liens, I encourage you to use your private insurance or AHCCCS to see appropriate medical specialists. For drunk driving accident victims, this often means neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, trauma specialists, and rehabilitation experts who can properly diagnose and treat your specific injuries.

This approach not only provides better care for your injuries but also preserves the value of your case by demonstrating to insurance companies that your injuries warrant serious medical attention.

Comprehensive Investigation of Glendale Drunk Driving Accidents

As your Glendale drunk driving accident injury lawyer, I conduct a thorough investigation that goes far beyond what happens in typical car accident cases:

Securing Evidence of Intoxication: I obtain police reports, blood/breath test results, field sobriety test videos, and officer testimony to establish the driver’s impairment.
Accident Reconstruction: I work with specialized experts to reconstruct the accident, demonstrating how the driver’s impairment contributed to the crash.
Witness Interviews: I locate and interview witnesses who may have observed the driver’s behavior before the accident, such as at bars or restaurants.
Criminal Case Monitoring: I track the progress of any criminal proceedings against the driver, leveraging favorable outcomes for your civil case.
Third-Party Liability Investigation: I determine whether any businesses may share liability for over-serving the driver.
Background Research: I investigate whether the driver has prior DUI convictions or a history of similar behavior, which can strengthen a punitive damages claim.

This comprehensive approach ensures we leave no stone unturned in building the strongest possible case for maximum compensation.

Your Clear Path Forward After a Glendale Drunk Driving Accident

When you work with me as your Glendale drunk driving accident injury lawyer, you’ll follow a clear, proven process:

Free Initial Consultation: We’ll discuss your accident, injuries, and concerns without any obligation. I’ll explain how I can help and answer all your questions about the legal process ahead.
Proper Medical Guidance: I’ll help you access appropriate medical care using your private insurance or AHCCCS rather than lien-based providers. This ensures you receive treatment from specialists who can properly diagnose and treat your specific injuries.
Comprehensive Investigation: I immediately begin gathering and preserving crucial evidence, including the drunk driver’s blood alcohol content, witness statements, and surveillance footage.
Weekly Check-ins: Unlike Phoenix car accident law firms where you might speak to a case manager instead of your lawyer, I personally check in with you weekly to monitor your medical progress and answer any questions. You’ll never wonder about the status of your case or feel forgotten.
Strategic Negotiation: I use my experience as a former insurance attorney to counter adjuster tactics and fight for fair compensation. I know exactly how insurance companies evaluate drunk driving accident claims and use this insider knowledge to your advantage.
Trial Preparation: Every case is prepared as if it will go to trial, which often leads to better settlement offers without actually needing to enter the courtroom. Insurance companies know when an attorney is truly ready to take a case to trial, and they respond accordingly. As a Glendale drunk driving accident injury lawyer we need to get ready for trial from day one.

What Justice Looks Like for Glendale Drunk Driving Accident Victims

Imagine being able to focus on your recovery without the stress of fighting insurance companies. Picture receiving the proper medical care from specialists who can address your specific injuries, rather than one-size-fits-all chiropractic treatment. Envision a settlement that truly covers your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and the additional punitive damages you deserve—not just the quick, lowball offer the insurance company first proposed.

This isn’t just possible; it’s what I deliver for my clients every day as a dedicated Glendale drunk driving accident injury lawyer.

The Cost of Choosing the Wrong Representation After a Drunk Driving Accident

Choosing the wrong attorney after being injured by a drunk driver in Glendale can have serious consequences. Many Glendale car accident law firms will:

Fail to pursue punitive damages that could significantly increase your compensation
Send you to chiropractors on liens, reducing your case value
Neglect to investigate potential dram shop liability against businesses that over-served the driver
Assign your case to non-attorney case managers with dozens of other files
Accept quick settlements to move on to the next case
Fail to coordinate effectively with the criminal proceedings

These mistakes can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation and leave you with inadequate resources for your ongoing recovery needs.

Common Locations for Drunk Driving Accidents in Glendale

As a Glendale drunk driving accident injury lawyer, I’ve represented clients injured in various locations throughout the area:

Loop 101 corridor through Glendale
Glendale Avenue, particularly near entertainment districts
59th Avenue and Northern Avenue intersection
Grand Avenue (US-60)
Areas near Westgate Entertainment District, especially after sporting events
Residential neighborhoods throughout Glendale

Each location presents unique challenges and considerations that I’m familiar with through my extensive experience representing Glendale residents.

Frequently Asked Questions About Glendale Drunk Driving Accident Cases

How is a drunk driving accident case different from a regular car accident case?

Drunk driving accident cases differ in several important ways:

1. Punitive Damages: You may be entitled to additional compensation specifically designed to punish the drunk driver’s reckless behavior.
2. Criminal Proceedings: The driver will likely face criminal charges, which can provide valuable evidence for your civil case.
3. Additional Liability: Businesses that served alcohol to the driver may share responsibility under dram shop laws.
4. Insurance Company Approach: Insurers often handle these cases differently, knowing that juries tend to award higher damages against drunk drivers.

As your Glendale drunk driving accident injury lawyer, I leverage these differences to maximize your compensation.

What if the drunk driver who hit me doesn’t have insurance or has minimal coverage?

This is unfortunately common, but you still have options:

1. Your Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Your own auto insurance may provide coverage when the at-fault driver has insufficient insurance.
2. Dram Shop Liability: Businesses that over-served the driver may have substantial insurance policies.
3. Personal Assets: In drunk driving cases, we can sometimes pursue the driver’s personal assets, particularly when seeking punitive damages.
4. Criminal Restitution: The criminal court may order the driver to pay restitution as part of their sentence.

I’ll help you explore all possible sources of compensation to ensure you receive the maximum recovery possible.

How long will my drunk driving accident case take to resolve?

The timeline varies depending on factors like the severity of your injuries, the progress of any criminal case against the driver, and the insurance company’s cooperation. Some cases settle within 6-12 months, while more complex cases may take longer.

Often, it makes strategic sense to wait until the criminal case concludes before resolving your civil claim, as a conviction or guilty plea can significantly strengthen your position. What’s most important is not rushing the process before we understand the full extent of your injuries and damages. I pride myself on efficient resolution while still maximizing your compensation, providing regular updates throughout the process.

Will I have to testify against the drunk driver who hit me?

You may need to provide testimony in both the criminal and civil proceedings, but I’ll prepare you thoroughly for any testimony and stand by your side throughout the process. Many victims find that testifying helps them achieve a sense of closure and justice. However, many cases settle without requiring victim testimony, particularly if there is strong evidence of the driver’s intoxication from other sources.

Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault in the accident?

Yes. Arizona follows a “comparative negligence” system, which means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident. Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re found to be 20% responsible for the accident, your compensation would be reduced by 20%.

However, in drunk driving cases, it’s often easier to establish that the impaired driver bears the vast majority or all of the fault. As your Glendale drunk driving accident injury lawyer, I’ll work to minimize any finding of comparative negligence against you.

Take the First Step Toward Recovery After Being Injured by a Drunk Driver

Your journey to recovery after being injured by a drunk driver in Glendale begins with a single step: reaching out for the right help. Unlike large advertising firms where you might never meet your actual attorney, when you contact GAMESQ, PLC, you’ll speak directly with me, Garrick McFadden, an experienced Glendale drunk driving accident injury lawyer.

I offer free consultations by phone, and my fee structure is contingency-based—meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Don’t let insurance companies or predatory medical providers diminish the value of your claim and your recovery. Fill out the contact form on this page or call my office today at 623-233-4416 to schedule your free consultation with a dedicated Glendale drunk driving accident injury lawyer.

Remember: Your injuries. Our fight. Your win.

This article is for informational purposes only and not legal advice. Every case is unique and requires individual analysis by a qualified attorney.