Drunk Driving Victim Rights in Michigan: Civil vs. Criminal
A drunk driver's criminal case is separate from your right to compensation. Here is what victims need to know.
Two Separate Processes
The criminal case punishes the drunk driver; your civil claim seeks compensation for your injuries. You do not have to wait for the criminal case to conclude to pursue your own claim.
Dram Shop Liability
In some cases, a bar or establishment that over-served a visibly intoxicated driver may share liability under Michigan's dram shop law, which has its own strict notice requirements.
Pursuing Full Compensation
Michigan's No-Fault system requires your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage to pay medical bills and a portion of lost wages after a crash, regardless of who was at fault. To sue an at-fault driver for pain and suffering in Michigan, your injury must meet the serious-impairment-of-body-function threshold. Drunk driving injuries are frequently severe enough to meet the threshold for pain-and-suffering damages.
How Injury Claim Team Can Help
Injury Claim Team is a free service — not a law firm — that connects injured people across Michigan with experienced, vetted personal injury attorneys. There is never a fee to use our service, and the attorneys we connect you with work on contingency, so you pay no attorney fee unless they recover compensation for you.
If you have questions about a Michigan drunk driving victim claim, a specialist is available 24 hours a day to review your situation and connect you with the right Michigan attorney — usually within the hour. Call 973-566-5599 for your free, confidential case review.
This article is general information about Michigan law, not legal advice for your specific situation. For guidance on your case, talk to a qualified attorney. Injury Claim Team can connect you with one at no cost — call 973-566-5599.