Greensboro Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers
A drunk driving accident can change your life in seconds. One moment you are heading home on Wendover Avenue or merging onto I-40, and the next you are dealing with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and a vehicle you can no longer drive.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a Greensboro drunk driving accident, you may have the right to seek compensation for your losses. For decades, the team at Lewis & Keller has helped injured people across North Carolina hold careless drivers accountable, and our Greensboro car accident lawyers handle impaired-driving cases as part of that work. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
How Common Are Drunk Driving Accidents?
Drunk driving remains one of the most preventable causes of death on American roads. According to national drunk driving statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 11,904 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2024. That is roughly 32 people every day, or about one death every 44 minutes.
The danger rises sharply with each drink. A driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 is about four times more likely to crash than a sober driver, and the risk climbs steeply at higher BAC levels.
North Carolina sees this danger play out every year. According to NCDOT crash data, 452 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes across the state in 2022, which was about a quarter of all traffic deaths that year. Those same crashes left more than 7,700 people injured. Behind every one of those numbers is a real person and a family whose lives were turned upside down.
Drunk Driving Accidents in Greensboro and Guilford County
Greensboro sits in Guilford County, one of the hardest-hit areas in the state for impaired driving. NCDOT data recorded 537 alcohol-related crashes in Guilford County in 2022, which caused 410 injuries and 17 deaths.
The problem is not new. Across the five years from 2017 through 2021, the county averaged roughly 650 alcohol-related crashes and 23 deaths each year, trailing only the Charlotte and Raleigh areas statewide.
Greensboro’s mix of interstate, highway, and city traffic gives impaired drivers plenty of chances to cause harm. Major corridors such as I-40, I-85, U.S. 29, Battleground Avenue, and Wendover Avenue carry heavy volumes day and night. The risk of an impaired-driving crash climbs after dark and on weekends, when more drivers are heading home from bars, restaurants, and events.
Where to Get Medical Care After a Crash
If you are seriously hurt in a Greensboro crash, Moses Cone Trauma Center, located at 1200 N. Elm Street, is a Level II trauma center and the flagship of the Cone Health network, with around-the-clock access to trauma surgeons and emergency care.
Getting prompt medical attention protects your health. It also creates a record that connects your injuries to the crash.
How to Get Your Greensboro Crash Report
A police crash report is one of the most useful pieces of evidence in a drunk driving claim. You can request a crash report through the Greensboro Police Department. To report a hit-and-run or a non-emergency crash, you can call 336-373-2222. The report often notes whether the officer suspected alcohol, which can help support your case.
Common Injuries in Drunk Driving Crashes
Because impaired drivers often speed, run red lights, or drive the wrong way, the crashes they cause tend to be violent. Survivors can face injuries that require months or years of treatment, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Broken bones and crush injuries
- Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
- Neck and back injuries, including whiplash
- Severe burns, cuts, and scarring
- Emotional trauma, anxiety, and depression
Some of these injuries are permanent and can affect your ability to work, care for your family, and enjoy the activities you once loved. The compensation you pursue should reflect the full scope of what the crash has cost you.
What to Do After a Greensboro Drunk Driving Accident
The steps you take in the hours and days after a crash can have a real impact on your health and your claim. If you are able, try to:
- Call 911 and report the crash and any signs that the other driver was impaired.
- Get medical attention right away, even if you feel fine, because some injuries may not appear for hours.
- Document the scene with photos of the vehicles, the road, and your injuries, if it is safe to do so.
- Collect names and contact information for the other driver and any witnesses.
- Avoid giving recorded statements to the other driver’s insurer before you speak with an attorney.
- Contact an experienced drunk driving accident lawyer to protect your rights and your claim.
Acting quickly matters most because evidence fades, and the other driver’s insurer often moves fast to limit what it pays.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Drunk Driving Accident?
In most drunk driving cases, the impaired driver is the primary party responsible for the harm they caused. To recover compensation, you generally need to show that the driver owed you a duty of care, breached that duty by driving while impaired, and caused your injuries as a result. A drunk driving arrest or conviction can be powerful evidence that the driver was negligent.
North Carolina follows a strict rule called contributory negligence. Under this rule, if you are found even partially at fault for the crash, you may be barred from recovering anything. Insurance companies know this and often try to shift some of the blame onto injured people.
In some cases, the driver is not the only party responsible. North Carolina law allows injured people to pursue certain third parties who helped put an impaired driver on the road.
Dram Shop Liability in North Carolina
A “dram shop” claim seeks to hold a business, such as a bar, restaurant, or store, responsible for serving alcohol in violation of the law. Under Section 18B-121 of the North Carolina General Statutes, an injured person can bring a claim against a permittee who negligently sold or furnished alcohol to an underage person who then caused a crash while impaired. In practice, North Carolina’s dram shop claims are limited mainly to cases involving drivers under 21.
Social Host Liability in North Carolina
North Carolina also recognizes social host liability, which can apply to a person who serves alcohol at a private gathering rather than a business. This doctrine comes from North Carolina court decisions, including the state Supreme Court’s ruling in Hart v. Ivey. A social host may be held responsible when the host provided alcohol to a guest, knew or should have known the guest was intoxicated, and knew the guest would soon be driving. These claims can be difficult to prove, which is why a careful investigation matters.
How a Criminal DWI Case Affects Your Injury Claim
When someone is arrested for driving while impaired, two separate legal matters can follow. The state brings a criminal case to punish the driver, which can result in fines, a license suspension, or jail time. Your civil case is separate. You bring it to recover money for your injuries and losses.
These cases use different standards of proof. A criminal conviction requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt, while a civil claim only requires showing that the driver was more likely than not at fault. That means you can still pursue a civil claim even if the driver is never charged or is acquitted, and a conviction can strengthen your civil case.
Keep in mind that any restitution ordered in the criminal case is usually separate from, and often far smaller than, the full compensation you may seek in a civil claim. The criminal case also does not pause your civil filing deadline, so it is important to act promptly.
Damages You May Be Able to Recover
Every case is different, but people injured by drunk drivers in North Carolina may be able to recover compensation for losses such as:
- Emergency care, hospital bills, surgery, and ongoing medical treatment
- Future medical care and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and reduced earning ability
- Property damage to your vehicle
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Because drunk driving involves a conscious decision to put others at risk, these cases may also support a claim for punitive damages, which, under North Carolina law, are meant to punish willful or wanton conduct. If a loved one died in a drunk driving crash, surviving family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim for losses such as funeral costs and the loss of the loved one’s care and companionship.
How Long Do You Have to File a Claim in North Carolina?
North Carolina sets firm deadlines, called statutes of limitations, for filing an injury claim. Under Section 1-52, most personal injury claims must be filed within three years of the crash. For a wrongful death claim, Section 1-53 generally gives families two years from the date of death.
These deadlines are strict, and missing them can mean losing your right to compensation altogether. The sooner you reach out, the more time your attorney has to investigate, preserve evidence, and build a strong case.
Drunk Driving Accident FAQs
Below are answers to some of the questions we hear most often from people injured by drunk drivers in North Carolina.
Can I Recover Money If the Drunk Driver Was Not Convicted?
Yes. Your civil injury claim is separate from the criminal case and uses a lower standard of proof. Even if the driver is never charged or is found not guilty, you may still be able to recover compensation through a civil claim.
What If I Was Partly at Fault for the Crash?
North Carolina’s contributory negligence rule can bar recovery if you are found even slightly at fault. That makes it important to have an experienced attorney who can investigate the crash and respond to the insurer’s attempts to blame you.
What If the Drunk Driver Did Not Have Insurance?
Many impaired drivers carry little or no insurance. If that is the case, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may help pay for your losses. An attorney can review every policy that might apply to your claim.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer?
When another person chooses to get behind the wheel after drinking, the people they hurt are left to pick up the pieces. You should not have to do that alone. The team at Lewis & Keller handles injury cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing up front, and you do not pay any attorney fees unless we recover money for you.
Contact Our Greensboro Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers
When a drunk driver causes a crash, the responsibility for that choice rests with them, and you do not have to face the aftermath on your own. The experienced and dedicated car accident team at Lewis & Keller is here to listen, answer your questions, and explain your options. Our goal is to help you pursue the full compensation you may be entitled to, so you can focus on healing.
If you were injured by a drunk driver in Greensboro or anywhere in North Carolina, contact Lewis & Keller today for a free consultation. We can review your case and explain your options at no cost to you. Let us fight for the recovery you deserve.
