Driving is a relatively safe form of transportation provided that everyone abides by the rules of the road and maintains their vehicles properly. Unfortunately, not everyone is responsible for motor vehicle travel and the risks that it poses to them and the public.
People who get behind the wheel after having too much to drink our perfect example. Between awareness campaigns and the stories depicted in popular media, it was virtually impossible for someone to be totally unaware of the risk associated with driving after drinking.
Sadly, many people put their own convenience or wishes above the safety of others, sometimes with tragic results. If someone gets drunk and causes a crash with your car, can you take them to court to seek compensation?
Alabama requires that one driver is purely at fault
Some states allow for comparative negligence claims, which is a way of saying that someone who is partially at fault for an accident can still bring a claim against someone who is more at fault for the crash. Alabama is not one of those states.
The law in Alabama only allows those who do not share fault in a crash to bring a personal injury claim against someone else. A situation where you were sober and complying with the law and the other driver was drunk and pause the crash could meet those requirements.
Driving while drunk is negligent because most people recognize that it increases risk. It is also illegal, making it a criminal act. Provided that you suffer property damage or injuries, you may be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit against a drunk driver who causes a crash.
