Impaired driving continues to devastate lives across Phoenix, causing catastrophic injuries and fatalities on major highways and local streets alike. Whether due to alcohol, prescription medications, illegal drugs, or a combination of substances, intoxicated drivers exhibit severely impaired judgment, delayed reaction times, and reduced coordination that make them exceptionally dangerous to everyone on the road. The consequences often include severe injuries like traumatic brain damage, internal organ trauma, and life-altering spinal injuries. In Phoenix's busy traffic conditions, where split-second decisions are crucial, impaired drivers pose an especially severe threat. Beyond the immediate trauma, victims often face extensive medical treatments, rehabilitation costs, and long-term disabilities that impact their ability to work and enjoy life. For those injured by impaired drivers, understanding their legal rights is essential, as Arizona law provides strong protections and multiple avenues for seeking compensation.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Arizona maintains strict DUI laws under ARS § 28-1381, with both criminal and civil implications for impaired drivers. In injury cases, evidence of a driver's impairment, including BAC test results or drug screening, can establish clear liability. Arizona's dram shop laws (ARS § 4-311) may also allow victims to pursue claims against establishments that served alcohol to visibly intoxicated persons who later caused accidents. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years, though criminal proceedings against the impaired driver may run concurrently. Compensation can include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and punitive damages, which are often awarded in DUI cases to punish particularly reckless behavior. While standard insurance minimums apply, DUI accidents frequently involve criminal restitution orders and potential access to victims' compensation funds. Click the links below to learn how a Phoenix drunk driving accident lawyer can help with your type of accident or injury:

Click the links below to learn more about how an experienced lawyer helps with drunk driving accidents and injuries of all types, including:

• Phoenix car accident attorney;
• Phoenix pedestrian accident attorney;
• Phoenix motorcycle accident lawyer;
• Phoenix truck accident lawyer;
• Phoenix brain injury lawyer;
• Phoenix soft tissue injury attorney;
• Phoenix wrongful death claim lawyer.

Related Resources

Courts

• Maricopa County Superior Court
• Phoenix Municipal Court
• Arizona DUI Management Court

Victim Support Services

• MADD Arizona Victim Services
• Survivors Network Arizona
• Arizona Crime Victims Rights Law Group
• Banner Health Trauma Recovery Center

Official Resources

• Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety DUI Task Force
• Arizona Department of Public Safety Victims of Crime Services
• Arizona Criminal Justice Commission
• Arizona Victim Compensation Program

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