A civil drunk driving case is different from a criminal drunk driving case in several respects:
- The burden of proof in a civil case is a preponderance of the evidence, which is a lower standard than in criminal cases.
- A victim decides whether to bring a civil claim; a state attorney authorizes criminal charges.
- The purpose of the civil case is to determine financial compensation for the victim; the victim is not the only focus of a criminal case.
- In the civil case, the victim decides when to accept a settlement; a state attorney makes decisions about plea offers in a criminal case.
We invite you to speak with our team of lawyers for drunk driving accidents to learn about how a civil claim can help you reach your goals.