Being hurt by a drunk driver is different — legally and emotionally. The crash wasn’t an accident in any meaningful sense; it was the predictable result of a choice. The law treats it differently too, and victims of impaired drivers often have stronger claims and more sources of recovery than victims of ordinary negligence.
Punitive Damages Are on the Table
In Missouri, when a driver’s conduct shows complete indifference to the safety of others — and Missouri courts have allowed juries to consider impaired driving under that standard — a jury may be permitted to consider punitive damages on top of compensation. Missouri sets a deliberately high bar — clear and convincing evidence, and the court’s leave before punitives are even pleaded — but when that door opens, it meaningfully changes the posture of settlement negotiations.
The Criminal Case Helps Your Civil Case
The DWI prosecution proceeds separately from your injury claim, but it produces evidence — breath or blood results, dashcam footage, the officer’s report, and often a guilty plea — that powers the civil case. As a career courtroom lawyer, reading a criminal file for civil leverage is second nature to me. You do not have to wait for the criminal case to finish to start your claim, and you shouldn’t.
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From the blog: Hit by a Drunk Driver in Missouri? You Can Sue for More Than You Think.
The consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win. When you’re hurt, call Kurt. (417) 553-4898 — or request a free case review.