Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Temecula
Three Decades Serving Temecula. Over 50 Years of Combined Experience on Your Side.
Sweeney, Sweeney & Sweeney, APC is a family-run California personal injury firm with three decades of service to Temecula, Hemet, and the surrounding Inland Valley. W. Michael Sweeney, Robert J. Sweeney, and William Sweeney bring over 50 years of combined legal experience to every case we take. When a drunk driver injures you or someone you love, we pursue the compensation available under California law, working directly with you from first call through resolution.
If you were hurt by an impaired driver in the Temecula area, call us today at (951) 800-7731 to discuss your options in a free consultation.
Direct Attorney Involvement on Every Injury Claim
At Sweeney, Sweeney & Sweeney, APC, you work with the attorneys listed on the door, not a case manager or junior staff member. That direct involvement shapes every decision in your case, from how we document your injuries to how we negotiate with the insurer on the other side. We’ve spent three decades learning how major insurance companies evaluate and contest drunk driving claims, and we use that knowledge in representing you.
Being a small firm isn’t a limitation. It means each client receives a strategy built around their specific facts rather than a workflow built for volume. That personal attention matters especially in DUI injury cases, where the evidence timeline moves quickly after the crash.
How California Law Applies to Drunk Driving Injury Cases
California Vehicle Code Section 23152 prohibits driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. When a driver violates that statute and causes a crash, that violation can support a finding of negligence per se in the related civil claim. Negligence per se means the law itself establishes the duty and its breach, creating a presumption of negligence that can narrow the contested issues in the case.
California also follows a pure comparative negligence rule. Even if you bear some share of fault for the collision, you can still recover damages, reduced only by your percentage of responsibility. This rule may not prevent recovery in a DUI case, where the intoxicated driver’s conduct is often a major cause of the crash.
Compensation Available After a DUI Crash
A drunk driving injury claim can pursue several categories of damages:
- Economic damages: Medical expenses, future treatment costs, and lost income from time away from work
- Non-economic damages: Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages: Under California Civil Code Section 3294, punitive damages may be awarded when a defendant acted with malice, oppression, or fraud; courts have recognized that driving while intoxicated can meet that standard
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: When the at-fault driver carries little or no insurance, your own UM/UIM policy can provide a source of compensation
- Wrongful death claims: A fatal drunk driving crash can give surviving family members the right to pursue a wrongful death claim for their losses
Dram Shop Liability in California
California generally doesn’t hold commercial alcohol servers liable for injuries caused by an intoxicated adult patron. The important exception appears in California Business and Professions Code Section 25602.1: a licensed establishment that serves alcohol to an obviously intoxicated minor who then causes injury can face civil liability. If the driver who hit you was a minor who was served at a bar or restaurant before the crash, that fact is worth examining. We treat dram shop questions as part of a thorough case review rather than assuming one theory of recovery covers everything.
Criminal DUI Cases vs. Your Civil Injury Claim
A criminal DUI prosecution and your civil injury claim are separate proceedings. The criminal case requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt; your civil claim requires only a preponderance of the evidence, meaning it’s more likely than not that the defendant caused your injuries.
A DUI conviction can be introduced as supporting evidence in your civil claim. Blood alcohol concentration test results from the police report can serve a similar function. Criminal and civil matters in the Temecula area are generally handled through the Southwest Justice Center, the Riverside County Superior Court facility in Murrieta, and familiarity with that court matters when your case reaches litigation.
Steps to Protect Your Claim After a Crash
The decisions you make in the days after a crash can significantly affect your claim. A few things matter most:
- Get a medical evaluation promptly: Some injuries don’t produce obvious symptoms right away; a timely exam documents what exists before the insurer can argue it developed later
- Document what you can: Photos of vehicle damage, road conditions, and visible injuries create a record that can’t be reconstructed after the scene is cleared
- Obtain the police report: DUI crash reports often contain field sobriety test observations and BAC results that may help establish the driver’s impairment
- Don’t accept an early settlement offer: Insurers sometimes move quickly before the full extent of your injuries is known; accepting that offer typically ends your right to pursue additional compensation
Talk to Our Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys in Temecula
If a drunk driver injured you or a family member, the path forward starts with understanding how your claim may be valued. Our attorneys handle that conversation personally. California’s two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims means time matters, so don’t wait to explore your options.
Call Sweeney, Sweeney & Sweeney, APC at (951) 800-7731 or reach us through our contact form to schedule your free consultation.
Questions? We Have Answers!
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Should I provide a recorded statement to the insurance company?
It is our strong recommendation that this not be done without legal representation so as not to jeopardize your claim. The reality is that insurance claims adjusters are skilled at asking questions that are designed to result in the reduction or denial of your claim. Insurance companies are businesses, and they are in business to make money. Their lawyers often try to use recorded statements in order to minimize or deny the value of accident claims. You need us to help you.
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Should I inform the other party's insurance company about the accident?
To pursue the claim, the other party’s insurance company needs to be contacted. However, the other party's insurer — and likely your insurer — may take something that you said and manipulate your statement in order to minimize or altogether deny your accident claim. Again, contact us as soon as possible after your accident, as we can handle any further communication with the insurance companies to ensure no misunderstandings occur and you claim is not jeopardized. Also, if the other party's insurer contacts you for information, you are not obliged to make any statements. Instead, refer the insurer to your attorney.
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Should I inform my insurance company that I was involved in a crash?
Yes. Waiting to notify your insurer could result in your accident not being covered. However, when you contact the insurance company, provide only the facts of the case and avoid making any statements about who was at fault. You should contact a personal injury lawyer before making any more statements to the insurance company.
Testimonials
What Our Clients Say About Us
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"Outstanding attorneys who are trustworthy, fair and honest."Very professional office with great service.- Robert P.
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"We are impressed with your demeanor, your expertise and your patience in explaining all aspects of the case."Thank you for your efforts and expertise in all the hours you spent in settling our case.- Pauline B.
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"Having Sweeney, Sweeney & Sweeney in my corner throughout the entire process gave me great peace of mind."From the intake of the facts of my situation through to the final resolution with the insurance company, they covered every base.- Former Client
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"Thank you so much for the manner in which you and your staff handled my claim."I am pleased with what I consider to be a fair settlement.- Corolean S.
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"Excellent service, courtesy, great personalities, and exceptional professionalism!"I certainly know who to go to if I'm ever in need.- Joyce J.
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"I feel grateful that there are people in the business of protecting the rights of victims when someone caused the accident."Thank you for the professional manner in which everything was handled.- Caryl S.
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"Thank you so much for the outstanding legal assistance."Thank you for being there for me when I needed help the most!- Eleanor C.
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"I really appreciate your honesty and everything you have done for me."I really appreciate your honesty and everything you have done for me. God bless you and thank you.- Esmeralda T.
