DUI Accident Lawyer in Beverly Hills

How Our Beverly Hills DUI Accident Lawyers Can Help

Most DUI accident cases move through the same practical steps. We review what happened, request the police and arrest reports, and preserve photos, camera footage, and blood-alcohol evidence before it is lost.

Liability in a DUI crash can reach beyond the driver. Depending on the facts, a bar or restaurant that over-served an obviously intoxicated customer may share responsibility under California’s dram shop rules (Business and Professions Code section 25602.1), and an employer or vehicle owner who put an impaired driver on the road may be liable as well. We investigate every possible source of recovery.

You do not need to understand the full legal process before calling. A lawyer can review what happened, explain your options, and handle the impaired driver’s insurance company for you.

A DUI accident lawyer can protect your claim while you focus on medical care and recovery.

Common Causes of DUI Accidents in Beverly Hills

DUI crashes in and around Beverly Hills happen for predictable but preventable reasons. Impairment slows reaction time and clouds judgment — and the cause of the crash often shapes who can be held responsible.

Alcohol-Impaired Driving

Alcohol is the leading cause of impaired-driving crashes. Overconsumption leads to poor judgment, slowed reactions, and dangerous decisions behind the wheel.

Drug-Impaired Driving

Illegal drugs impair coordination and alertness. A driver under the influence of multiple substances is often even more dangerous to everyone around them.

Prescription Medication Impairment

Even legally prescribed medication can severely affect reaction time and focus, leaving a driver unfit to be on the road.

Excessive Speed and Aggression

Impaired drivers frequently speed, tailgate, and drive aggressively, turning an ordinary road into a serious hazard.

Delayed Reaction Time

Alcohol and drugs delay the split-second reactions that prevent collisions, so impaired drivers often brake or swerve far too late.

Late-Night and Weekend Driving

Late nights and weekends see more impaired drivers on Beverly Hills and Los Angeles roads, raising the risk for everyone else.

Repeat Impaired Drivers

A driver with prior DUIs who chooses to drive impaired again shows a pattern of disregard that can support a claim for punitive damages.

Rideshare and Commercial Drivers

Crashes involving impaired rideshare, delivery, or commercial drivers raise added questions about which insurance policies apply.

Wrong-Way and Red-Light Crashes

Impaired drivers running red lights or entering a roadway the wrong way cause some of the most severe head-on collisions.

Multi-Vehicle Chain Collisions

Impairment at freeway speeds can trigger multi-vehicle pileups that injure several innocent people at once.

Not sure who was at fault or how to deal with the insurance company? A free consultation can help you understand your options before you give a statement.

Common Serious Injuries in DUI Crashes

DUI crashes tend to happen at higher speeds, so the injuries are often severe. Some are obvious right away; others, like internal bleeding or a brain injury, can worsen in the hours and days after the crash.

• Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Internal bleeding and organ damage
• Broken bones and crush injuries
• Neck, back, and soft-tissue injuries
• Lacerations and permanent scarring
• PTSD, anxiety, and emotional trauma
• Wrongful death of a loved one

Photos, witness information, medical records, and police reports can become important evidence after a crash.

What to Do After a DUI Accident in Beverly Hills

• Call 911 if anyone is injured and report the crash.
• Get medical attention as soon as possible, even if you feel “okay.”
• Ask that police document any signs of the other driver’s impairment.
• Photograph the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries.
• Get contact details for the driver and any witnesses.
• Do not give a recorded statement to the insurer before speaking with a lawyer.

The steps you take after a DUI crash can affect your health, your claim, and your ability to recover full compensation.

What Evidence Helps Prove a DUI Accident Claim?

A strong DUI claim is built on records that show what happened, that the driver was impaired, and how badly you were hurt. Helpful evidence may include:

• Police and DUI arrest reports
• Blood alcohol content (BAC) results
• Field sobriety and chemical test records
• Photos, videos, and dashcam footage
• Surveillance and traffic-camera footage
• Witness statements
• Medical and ambulance records
• Bar or restaurant receipts (for dram shop claims)

What Compensation Can You Recover After a DUI Crash?

The value of a DUI accident claim depends on the severity of your injuries, the treatment you need, the income you lost, and the lasting impact on your life. Because the at-fault driver acted recklessly, punitive damages may also be available.

Compensation may include:

• Medical bills and future medical care
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
• Property damage
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Punitive damages against the impaired driver (California Civil Code section 3294)

Compensation may include medical expenses, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and punitive damages against the drunk driver.

Should You Talk to the Insurance Company?

Insurance adjusters may seem helpful, but their job is to protect the insurance company’s bottom line. A recorded statement or a quick early offer can quietly undercut a claim that is worth far more.

Before speaking in detail with the driver’s insurance company, consider talking with a lawyer so you understand your rights.

Adjusters often call within hours of a DUI crash, before you know how serious your injuries are. A short conversation with a lawyer first can keep an offhand comment from being used against you.

What If You Were Partly at Fault?

California follows a comparative fault rule, so you can generally recover compensation even if you were partly responsible — your recovery is just reduced by your share of fault.

That makes evidence important. The insurer may try to shift blame onto you to cut its payout. The driver’s impairment, witness statements, and the police report all help keep the focus where it belongs.

How Long Do You Have to File a DUI Accident Claim in California?

In most California personal injury cases, the deadline is two years from the date of the crash. Claims involving a government vehicle or public entity can have much shorter deadlines — sometimes as little as six months.

Because deadlines can change depending on the facts, speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after a DUI crash.

How Much Does a Beverly Hills DUI Accident Lawyer Cost?

Etehad Law offers free consultations and handles DUI accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

No fee unless we win · No upfront attorney fees · Free consultation

Representative Auto Accident Results

The following are examples of results Etehad Law has obtained in serious auto accident cases, including impaired-driving crashes. Each case is different, and these amounts depend on the specific facts.

Jury verdict in an auto v. auto crash where the client was held at 30% at-fault.

An auto v. auto case where a client’s deposition was never taken. Initial offer of $84,000.

Client was struck by a delivery driver in this auto v. auto case.

Minor impact crash with a driver within the course and scope of work.

An auto v. truck case where a police report claimed the client was at fault for an unsafe lane change.

A disputed liability against a rideshare driver that ended as a confidential settlement against a rideshare company.

Meet Your Beverly Hills DUI Accident Legal Team

Simon P. Etehad

Founder & Lead Attorney, Etehad Law

Simon P. Etehad founded Etehad Law and has spent more than 25 years helping injured people in Beverly Hills and across Los Angeles. The firm has handled thousands of personal injury matters, including crashes caused by drunk and drug-impaired drivers.

Associate attorney Erik Harper also represents injured clients at the firm.

Experience: 25+ years · 2,000+ cases closed · Recognition: Super Lawyers · FIDF Western Region President · California State Bar #186449

When you work with Etehad Law, you get a team that returns calls, keeps you updated, coordinates your medical care, and handles the insurance company — so you can focus on healing after a DUI crash.

Call for a Free Consultation With a Beverly Hills DUI Accident Lawyer

A serious DUI crash can affect your health, income, and future. Etehad Law can review what happened, explain your legal options, and pursue full compensation from the driver who caused it.

Call (310) 550-1220 or fill out the form to request a free consultation.

Free consultation. No attorney-client relationship is created unless the firm reviews and accepts your case in writing.

Request a Consultation

• Personal Injury
• Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Uber/Lyft & Taxi Accidents
• Hit and Run Accidents
• Rear-End Accidents
• Head-On Collisions
• Wrongful Death

Frequently Asked Questions About DUI Accidents in Beverly Hills

You generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury claim in California. Claims involving a government vehicle or public entity can have much shorter deadlines, so it is best to speak with a lawyer quickly.

Yes. A criminal DUI case is separate from your civil injury claim. Even if the driver is prosecuted, you can still file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

You may recover medical expenses, future care, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, property damage, and pain and suffering. Because the driver acted recklessly, punitive damages may also be available under California Civil Code section 3294.

Sometimes. Under California’s dram shop rules (Business and Professions Code section 25602.1), a business that served alcohol to an obviously intoxicated minor may share liability. These claims require careful investigation and strong evidence.

Insurance adjusters work for the insurance company, not for you. A recorded statement or a quick settlement can undercut your claim. Consider speaking with a lawyer before giving any detailed statement.

California follows a comparative fault rule, so you can usually still recover compensation even if you were partly responsible. Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, which makes strong evidence important.

Etehad Law offers free consultations and handles DUI accident cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Most cases settle out of court, but some proceed to trial when an insurer refuses to offer fair compensation. We prepare every case as if it may go to trial to strengthen your position.

Etehad Law has more than 25 years of experience representing injured people, with no upfront costs and no fees unless we win. We investigate impairment, pursue every source of recovery, and keep you informed at every step.

Attorney advertising. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

Submitting a form or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. An attorney-client relationship is formed only after the firm reviews and accepts your case in writing.

Laws and deadlines vary depending on the facts of your case, and the information here may not reflect the law that applies to your situation. Speak with a licensed attorney about your specific case.

Injured by a Drunk Driver?

Talk to a Beverly Hills DUI accident lawyer before giving a recorded statement, accepting an insurance offer, or missing an important deadline.

Confidential consultation. No fee unless we win.

Credentials & Legal Profiles

Before choosing a DUI accident lawyer, many clients want to review credentials, ratings, and professional profiles. Use the links below to verify Etehad Law and Simon P. Etehad, Esq.

Disclaimer

This information is for general purposes only and is not legal advice. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every DUI accident case is different; speak with a licensed California attorney about your specific situation.