Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Aurora, MO

Southwest Missouri’s Family-Owned Firm Fighting for Drunk Driving Victims Since 1957

When a drunk driver causes a crash, the injuries are severe and the situation is deeply unfair. The crash wasn’t an accident in any meaningful sense: it was someone’s choice. At Pettit Law Office, we’ve represented personal injury clients throughout Aurora and Southwest Missouri since 1957. We’re a family-owned firm in Aurora, MO, and when you hire us, you work with the same attorney from your first call through resolution. We offer free case evaluations and bilingual services (Se Habla Español).

How Drunk Driving Claims Differ from Standard Car Accident Cases

Missouri law designates the offense as DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) under RSMo 577.010. A driver with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher is considered intoxicated per se, meaning impairment is legally established without additional proof. That distinction matters directly in your civil case.

When a driver’s BAC meets or exceeds 0.08%, it can constitute negligence per se. That doctrine removes one of the central disputes from your civil claim: the violation of a safety law can establish unreasonable conduct. The criminal DWI case runs on a separate track from your civil personal injury claim, and a criminal conviction isn’t required to pursue civil compensation. The burden of proof in civil court is lower.

Missouri also allows courts to award punitive damages in drunk driving cases. Unlike compensatory damages, punitive damages aren’t meant to replace what you lost; they’re designed to punish conduct showing conscious disregard for others’ safety. Drunk driving is among the strongest candidates for punitive damages under Missouri law, and Missouri imposes no statutory cap on damages in personal injury cases.

Missouri’s Dram Shop Law & Other Liable Parties

The drunk driver isn’t always the only party with legal responsibility. Missouri’s dram shop law, RSMo 537.053, allows victims to pursue claims against a licensed alcohol provider that knowingly served a visibly intoxicated person, or that knew or should have known it was serving a minor, who then caused the accident. The statute applies only to sellers licensed to sell intoxicating liquor by the drink for consumption on the premises. Missouri has no social host liability law covering private individuals who serve alcohol at parties.

Commercial liquor liability policies typically carry significantly higher coverage limits than a driver’s personal auto policy, making a dram shop claim a potentially critical source of recovery. The evidence needed to support that claim, including surveillance footage, receipts, and witness accounts, is often overwritten or discarded within 30 to 90 days of the incident. Early attorney involvement can help preserve it.

In some cases, a negligent entrustment claim is also available when someone knowingly loaned a vehicle to a driver who was intoxicated or had a documented history of impaired driving.

Damages Available After a Drunk Driving Accident in Aurora, Missouri

Missouri law makes several categories of damages available to victims of drunk driving crashes:

Economic Damages

These cover past and future medical bills, lost wages, reduced future earning capacity, vehicle repair or replacement, and rehabilitation costs, calculated from bills, pay records, and expert testimony.

Non-Economic Damages

Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium are all compensable. They don’t appear on a bill, but they represent real harm.

Punitive Damages

Missouri courts have discretion to award these when the driver’s conduct meets the conscious disregard standard. Drunk driving cases are strong candidates, and Missouri imposes no statutory cap.

Wrongful Death Claims

If someone you loved died in a drunk driving crash, Missouri law under RSMo 537.080 allows surviving family members to file a wrongful death claim. Recoverable damages include funeral and burial costs, lost financial support, and loss of companionship.

Missouri’s personal injury statute of limitations is five years from the date of the accident under RSMo 516.120. Wrongful death claims must be filed within three years of the date of death under RSMo 537.100. Waiting costs more than time: police dashcam footage, surveillance video, and witness memory all degrade.

Our firm has recovered millions of dollars for personal injury clients, including a $6,500,000 car accident settlement and a $732,000 settlement in a rear-end collision case. Past results don’t guarantee future outcomes, but they reflect how seriously we prepare every case.

How Pettit Law Office Handles Your Case

We start by gathering the evidence that builds your civil claim: police reports, breathalyzer results, body camera footage, surveillance video, medical records, and witness statements. Insurance companies representing impaired drivers move quickly to limit their exposure after a crash. We handle all communications with those insurers so nothing you say is used against your claim.

If the drunk driver is uninsured or underinsured, we explore your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and any available dram shop claims as additional sources of recovery. We follow avenues the facts support.

Scott Pettit and James Pettit bring both negotiation and trial experience to personal injury matters. Our firm holds a BBB A+ rating and a Martindale-Hubbell AV rating, and we are members of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys and the American Association for Justice. You won’t be passed to a paralegal or a rotating associate. The attorney you meet at your consultation is the attorney who handles your case.

Talk to a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Aurora, MO Today

A free case evaluation costs you nothing and can tell you where you stand. We serve clients throughout Aurora, Lawrence County, and Southwest Missouri, and bilingual services are available.