Legally Reviewed by Phillip Younglove, Esq. on August 5, 2026
Newport Beach Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities decreased approximately 4.5 percent statewide, from 1,419 in 2022 to 1,355 in 2023. Despite that improvement, drunk driving remains one of the most preventable and most dangerous causes of serious injury on California’s roads, and Newport Beach’s harbor dining and nightlife scene along Mariners’ Mile and the waterfront creates real risk of encountering an impaired driver, particularly during evening hours.
At Younglove Law Group, our Newport Beach personal injury attorneys have recovered over $60 million for injured clients throughout California, bringing more than 20 years of combined legal experience to drunk driving accident claims. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
⚠ Time-Sensitive — California Law Limits Your Window to File
California’s statute of limitations for drunk driving accident claims is generally two years from the date of the accident.
Younglove Law Group has recovered over $60 million for injured Californians over more than 20 years of combined legal experience. We handle drunk driving accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
Call (949) 691-3660 for a Free Consultation
California’s DUI Laws and Why They Matter to Your Claim
California Vehicle Code Section 23152 makes it unlawful to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and sets a per se blood alcohol limit of 0.08 percent for most drivers, 0.04 percent for commercial license holders, and 0.01 percent for drivers under 21. When a driver violates this statute and causes an accident, California courts generally apply the doctrine of negligence per se, meaning the violation of the law itself can establish the driver’s breach of duty without requiring separate proof of unreasonable conduct. This makes DUI cases meaningfully different from an ordinary negligence claim, where you must prove the driver failed to act reasonably under the circumstances.
Punitive Damages in Drunk Driving Cases
Beyond standard compensatory damages, California law allows punitive damages in cases involving conduct that rises to the level of malice, oppression, or fraud. Courts have consistently recognized that choosing to drive after drinking, with knowledge of the probable dangerous consequences, can support a punitive damages claim distinct from an ordinary car accident. Punitive damages are intended to punish especially reckless conduct and deter similar behavior, and they can significantly increase the total value of a drunk driving injury claim beyond your economic and non-economic losses.
Can a Bar or Restaurant Be Held Liable?
California law generally shields licensed businesses that serve alcohol from civil liability for the actions of an intoxicated adult patron. The one narrow exception under California Business and Professions Code Section 25602.1 allows a claim against a licensed vendor who sells or serves alcohol to an obviously intoxicated minor who then causes injury. Outside of that specific circumstance, California does not follow the broader dram shop liability rules found in some other states. Our attorneys evaluate the full facts of every case to determine whether this narrow exception, or any other theory of liability, may apply.
Common Injuries in Drunk Driving Accidents
Because impaired drivers have reduced coordination, slower reaction times, and impaired judgment, collisions involving alcohol frequently produce more severe injuries than accidents involving sober drivers. Our attorneys regularly handle cases involving traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and paralysis, broken bones, internal organ damage, severe lacerations and road rash, and significant disfigurement. In the most serious cases, a drunk driving accident results in a fatality, allowing surviving family members to pursue a wrongful death claim.
What Compensation Is Available After a Drunk Driving Accident
California law allows injured victims to pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover emergency treatment, hospitalization, ongoing rehabilitation, future medical care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and property damage. Non-economic damages compensate for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. As discussed above, punitive damages may also be available given the inherently reckless nature of driving while impaired.
What to Do After a Drunk Driving Accident in Newport Beach
- Call 911 immediately. Report the accident and request that responding officers investigate for signs of impairment, including field sobriety and breath testing where appropriate.
- Seek medical attention right away. Even injuries that seem minor at first can worsen, and same-day treatment creates the medical record your claim will depend on.
- Document the scene if you are able. Photograph the vehicles, any visible signs of impairment such as open containers, and the accident scene itself.
- Get witness contact information. Witnesses who observed the other driver’s behavior before the crash can be critical to your case.
- Obtain the police report once available. A DUI arrest or citation at the scene is powerful evidence supporting your civil claim.
- Contact Younglove Law Group promptly. Our attorneys move quickly to preserve evidence, including the police investigation record and any available toxicology results.
Statute of Limitations for Newport Beach Drunk Driving Claims
Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, most drunk driving injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of the accident. Missing this deadline typically bars your claim permanently, regardless of how clear the other driver’s impairment may have been.
Contact Younglove Law Group as soon as possible after your accident to protect your rights.
Frequently Asked Questions About Newport Beach Drunk Driving Accidents
Do I need to wait for the criminal DUI case to resolve before pursuing my own claim?
No. Your civil claim for compensation is separate from any criminal DUI prosecution and can proceed on its own timeline. In fact, waiting for the criminal case to conclude can risk your own statute of limitations, so it is important to consult an attorney promptly regardless of where the criminal matter stands.
Can I recover punitive damages in my drunk driving case?
Punitive damages may be available in addition to standard compensatory damages when the driver’s decision to drive while impaired rises to the level of malice or a conscious disregard for the safety of others. Our attorneys evaluate the specific facts of your case, including any prior DUI history or extreme intoxication level, to determine whether punitive damages are appropriate to pursue.
What if the drunk driver has no insurance or minimal coverage?
Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can provide compensation when the at-fault driver lacks sufficient insurance. Given how severe drunk driving injuries often are, insurance limits are exhausted more frequently in these cases, making a full review of every available coverage source especially important.
Can I sue the bar that served the driver alcohol?
In most cases involving an intoxicated adult patron, California law shields the serving establishment from civil liability. A narrow exception exists under California Business and Professions Code Section 25602.1 for serving an obviously intoxicated minor. Our attorneys evaluate whether this exception, or any other applicable theory, applies to your specific situation.
How long do I have to file a drunk driving accident claim in California?
Most drunk driving injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of the accident under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. Missing this deadline typically bars your claim permanently.
How much does it cost to hire a Newport Beach drunk driving accident lawyer?
Younglove Law Group handles all drunk driving accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you, and we advance all costs of investigating and litigating your claim. If your case does not resolve in your favor, you owe us nothing.
Call (949) 691-3660 for a Free Consultation
We are available 24/7. We care about your situation and want you to understand your legal options.
Younglove Law Group also handles Newport Beach car accident claims, hit-and-run accident claims, pedestrian accident claims, and wrongful death claims throughout the city.
- Client satisfaction is our top priority.
- We pride ourselves on responsiveness and always get back to you the same day you contact us.
- We are a real law firm, not a referral service.
- Your case will be handled by experienced legal professionals.
- Your case will not be passed around with repeated changes to your primary contact.
Contact Younglove Law Group’s Newport Beach Drunk Driving Attorneys
Attorney Phillip Younglove earned his J.D. from USC Gould School of Law and his B.A. from UCLA. Before founding Younglove Law Group, he spent years as an insurance defense attorney representing carriers, giving our clients firsthand insight into how insurers evaluate and attempt to minimize drunk driving claims. That background, combined with over $60 million recovered for injured clients and recognition from Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, means your claim is handled by attorneys who understand exactly how the other side builds its defense.
If you or a family member was injured by a drunk driver anywhere in Newport Beach, contact Younglove Law Group for a free consultation. Our attorneys will evaluate your case, explain your options, and begin building the strongest possible claim on your behalf.
