Law Office of Michael D. Waks

A Lawyer You Can Trust

No Fee Unless You Win

Call888.394.1174

Available 24/7

  • Home
  • Attorney Profile
  • Reviews
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury Lawyer Long Beach
    • Personal Injury Lawyer Cardiff
    • Motor Vehicle
      • Auto & Car Accidents
      • Bus Accidents
      • Distracted Driving
      • DUI Victim
      • Motorcycle Accidents
      • Truck Accidents
      • Wrongful Death
    • Premises Liability
      • Construction Accidents
      • Premises Liability
      • Electrical Accidents
      • Private Property Accidents
      • Slip and Fall Accident
      • Swimming Pool Accidents
    • Other Practice Areas
      • Brain Injury
      • Burn Injury
      • Bicycle Accidents
      • Boating Accidents
      • Dog Bite Accidents
      • Legal Malpractice
      • Pedestrian Accidents
      • Product Liability
      • Spinal Injury
  • Case Results
  • Videos
  • Resources
    • California Law Enforcement Information
    • California Personal Injury Laws and Statutory Rules
    • Other Resources
    • Personal Injury Law FAQs
    • Personal Injury Resources
    • Physical & Emotional Recovery Support
    • Southern California Courts
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Evidence to Strengthen Your Drunk Driving Accident Claim

January 18, 2023 by Michael Waks

man drinking alcohol behind wheel

Drunk driving accidents claim roughly 32 lives across the country every single day. Impaired motorists are also responsible for tens of thousands of injuries each year. 

If your life was turned upside-down by a drunk driver, it’s only natural to want justice. While the outcome of any criminal proceedings will depend on factors beyond your control, you can at least file a tort claim in the hopes of holding the motorist financially responsible.

Granted, no amount of money will undo the accident or restore the life you led before it happened. Securing a payout could make it easier to pick up the pieces in the aftermath, though, so you can carry on with a normal life.

In order to seek compensation for the associated damages, you’re going to have to put together a compelling personal injury claim. This starts by gathering evidence of both liability and damages. Let’s take a look at what each will likely include:

Evidence of Liability for Drunk Driving Accident Claims

You should be able to use some combination of the following to prove that the motorist who struck you was under the influence of alcohol at the time:

  • Eyewitness testimony, 
  • Surveillance footage of the driver being served at an establishment prior to the crash, 
  • The official police report,
  • Toxicology results, and
  • Social media posts.

Of course, it’s not enough to convince the insurance adjuster that the driver was impaired. You’re also going to have to demonstrate how they caused the wreck. In order to do that, you may need photographs of the scene, statements from accident reconstructionists, black box data, and dash camera footage.  

Evidence of Damages for Drunk Driving Accident Claims

You’re going to have to prove that you actually incurred all the losses you’re seeking. As such, you should be prepared to present evidence like medical records, hospital bills, health insurance statements, and payroll documentation logging every shift you missed while out of work recovering. 

Receipts and invoices will also come in handy when it comes time to make the case for reasonably necessary replacement services like housekeeping, meal preparation, and child care. And as for demonstrating non-economic damages like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of life enjoyment, you should be able to use personal journal entries, psych evaluations, and statements from loved ones. 

Discuss Your Case with a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Long Beach 

Your Injuries Are Personal to Me 

For help holding a drunk driver accountable, turn to the Law Office of Michael D. Waks. We’ll leave no stone unturned in pursuit of the compensation you deserve. Call (562) 206-1939 or submit the Contact Form on our website to schedule a free initial consultation with a drunk driving accident lawyer in Long Beach.

Download Our Car Accident Emergency Response .PDF

Should you find yourself in another accident, you’ll want to make sure you document the scene. Since the aftermath of a wreck is always chaotic, though, it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve created a Car Accident Emergency Response .pdf. Download it HERE for free, and keep a copy in your vehicle, so you can refer to it in the event of a crash.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Michael Waks
Michael Waks
Michael Waks is an aggressive advocate for people who have suffered because of someone else’s actions. Michael decided to become a personal injury lawyer when, while clerking at a legal defense firm during law school, he witnessed and was infuriated by asbestos manufacturers spending millions to avoid taking responsibility for the egregious injuries they caused. Immediately after passing the bar, Michael opened his own firm in Long Beach, CA to help the victims of personal injury accidents get every benefit owed them under the law.
Michael Waks
Latest posts by Michael Waks (see all)
  • How Can Social Media Activity Impact Your Personal Injury Case? - May 21, 2025
  • Why Working with a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Make a Difference in California - May 14, 2025
  • How Insurance Companies Review Injury Claims in California - April 30, 2025
Share here...

Law Office of Michael D. Waks

Get a Free Consultation

  • Submission of this form does not create an attorney-client relationship.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Other Areas We Serve

  • Personal Injury Lawyer Wilmington
  • Personal Injury Lawyer San Pedro
  • Personal Injury Lawyer Compton
  • Personal Injury Lawyer Paramount
  • Personal Injury Lawyer Signal Hill
  • Personal Injury Lawyer Lakewood
  • Personal Injury Lawyer Seal Beach

Testimonials

Michael represented me in a personal injury case and I can’t recommend him enough. From the very first consultation he made sure that I was always aware of my options and up to speed with every aspect of my case. He answered all my questions and used his experience and expertise to help guide my decisions instead of trying to make them all for me. He not only ensured that the settlement I received was more than enough to cover all my bills and expenses but he also made sure I had piece of mind and would be taken care of going forward.

– Eric G.‎
Read More Testimonials

Categories

  • Bicycle Accidents
  • Boating Accidents
  • Brain Injuries
  • Burn Accidents
  • Bus Accidents
  • Car Accidents
  • Construction Site Accidents
  • Disability
  • Distracted Driving Accident
  • Dog Bites
  • DUI Victim
  • Electrical Accidents
  • Government Entity Claims
  • Legal Malpractice
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Pedestrian Accidents
  • Personal Injury
  • Premises Liability
  • Private Property Accidents
  • Product Liability
  • Sexual Assault
  • Slip and Fall
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Swimming Pool Accidents
  • Train Accidents
  • Truck Accidents
  • Uncategorized
  • Uninsured Motorists
  • Wrongful Death
– BACK TO TOP –

Visit Us

Long Beach Office
1 World Trade Center, Suite 800
Long Beach, California 90831
P: 562-206-1939
F: 562-676-4388
Get Directions

Cardiff Office
160 Chesterfield Dr., Suite 200
Cardiff, CA 92007
760-767-8031
Get Directions

Call Us

888-394-1174
SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION
Personal injury lawyer Long Beach
Car accident lawyer Long Beach
Google Review
  • review_star
  • review_star
  • review_star
  • review_star
  • review_star

Michael Waks is The attorney you want to resolve your accident issues, period. He is knowledgeable, efficient, and gets maximum results when you are injured.

— Joe M
  • facebook-app-symbol
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • youtube
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Scholarship
  • Sitemap

This website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as providing formal legal advice.

Copyright © 2025 by Michael D. Waks Long Beach Personal Injury Lawyer & Car Accident Attorney

Website & SEO By Sutton Digital Marketing