Drunk Driving Accidents

Catastrophic Personal Injury

Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys in Kansas City

Representing the Innocent Victims of Drunk Driving Accidents

At the law firm of Dempsey Kingsland Osteen, we are familiar with the devastating impact of drunk driving accidents. We share the anger over a senseless decision by one person that leads to lasting injuries and financial hardships for the victims and their families.

Our legal team is committed to holding drivers accountable for crashes they caused while intoxicated or high. We pursue full compensation for victims of drunk drivers in both Missouri and Kansas.

U.S. Drunk Driving Accident Statistics

We all know the dangers of driving drunk. Unfortunately, driving under the influence continues to be a problem in the United States, leading to countless injuries, fatalities, and millions of dollars of damage each year.

According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and MADD:

• 10,142 people lost their lives in drunk driving accidents in 2019, accounting for 28% of all motor vehicle accident fatalities.
• Motorcycle riders saw the greatest increase in alcohol-related fatalities, rising by 15% from 1,278 in 2018 to 1,466 in 2019.
• Every day, people drive drunk more than 300,000 times, but only roughly 2,800 are arrested
• Roughly a quarter of car crashes with teens involve an underage drunk driver.

Proving Liability in a Drunk Driving Accident Case

Personal injury lawyers Lee Dempsey, Bob Kingsland, and Jason Osteen have handled hundreds of car accident cases. If alcohol is suspected as a factor, they know how to guide the investigation to demonstrate that the driver’s judgment and ability to control the vehicle were impaired.

In addition to damages for medical care, lost income, and pain and suffering, Missouri law allows for punitive damages in a drunk driving accident for aggravated liability such as:

• Speeding or tailgating
• Running a red light or stop sign
• Crossing the center line
• Driving without headlights
• Driving on a suspended license

That same negligence often makes the injuries worse in drunk driving accidents, especially when the intoxicated driver drifts into an oncoming lane or plows into the other car (or pedestrian) without braking.

What Are the Open Container Laws in Missouri?

The state of Missouri doesn’t have open container laws which prohibit the consumption of alcohol. Missouri allows open containers in moving motor vehicles as long as the driver is not actively drinking and everyone who is in the vehicle is over the age of 21.

Although these laws are lenient, it is best to prevent any type of alcohol consumption while driving, as the risks for injuries and accidents can increase rapidly. If you were in an accident due to the negligence of a driver who was drinking and driving, contact Dempsey Kingsland Osteen for a consultation to seek compensation for your injuries!

How We Can Help

Here at Dempsey Kingsland Osteen, we have medical consultants on call who help us determine appropriate compensation for the physical, financial, and emotional fallout of a car accident. We have recovered damages for the long-term needs from catastrophic injuries such as head injury, spinal injury, amputation, and burn injuries. Our firm has also obtained verdicts and settlements for wrongful death.

Missouri’s dram shop law allows for third-party lawsuits against a bar, restaurant, liquor store, or party host who negligently provided alcohol to an underage or already intoxicated person.

Seeking Justice & Maximizing Compensation

If a loved one was hit by a drunk driver in Missouri or Kansas, work with the Kansas City drunk driving accident lawyers at our firm. We can visit the seriously injured at home or hospital, and there are no attorney fees unless we secure compensation on your behalf.