Hit by a Drunk Driver?
We Sue Drunk Drivers.

In most personal injury cases, you can only recover compensatory damages — your actual losses. But drunk driving is different. Under Utah Code §78B-8-201, courts can award punitive damagesdesigned to PUNISH the drunk driver for their reckless behavior. And here's the key: the DUI exception in this statute lowers the standard of proof. Normally you need “clear and convincing evidence” of willful misconduct. For DUI cases, driving drunk is inherently reckless enough.

How it works: The first $50,000 in punitive damages goes entirely to you. Anything above that is split 50/50 between you and the State of Utah. This means punitive damages can significantly increase your total recovery — sometimes doubling or tripling the compensatory amount.

Under Utah's Dram Shop Act, if a bar, restaurant, or any alcohol provider served alcohol to someone who was visibly intoxicatedor under 21 — and that person then injured you — you can sue the establishment. This is a second source of recovery beyond the drunk driver's insurance.

Damages cap: $1 million per person, $2 million total per incident. We investigate every DUI case for Dram Shop liability because it often provides substantial additional compensation, especially when the drunk driver has minimal insurance coverage.

The criminal case (DUI prosecution by the state) and your civil case (lawsuit for damages) are separate legal actions. You can — and should — pursue both. The criminal conviction creates powerful evidence for your civil case. A DUI conviction or guilty plea essentially proves negligence, making your injury case significantly stronger.