Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys in Reading, PA

Documented Multi-Million-Dollar Results for Crash Victims in Berks & Schuylkill Counties

When a drunk driver causes a crash, the damage is rarely limited to the vehicle. Medical bills pile up, income stops, and the path forward is unclear. At Liever, Hyman & Potter, we’ve represented wrongful injury victims and their families since 1959, making us the longest-established motor vehicle injury law firm in Reading. Our published drunk driving results include a $3.265 million wrongful death settlement and a $2.5 million settlement for a woman seriously injured when her vehicle was struck by a drunk driver. Every attorney at our firm has devoted virtually their entire career to wrongful injury and death claims. No real estate. No business contracts. Four attorneys. One practice area. 115-plus combined years of undivided focus.

Consultations are free. We advance all case expenses and collect no fees of any kind until we recover money for you.

If you or someone in your family was hurt by a drunk driver in Reading or anywhere in Berks or Schuylkill County, call us today at (610) 885-1991 to schedule your free consultation.

Your Civil Claim Doesn’t Wait for the Criminal Case

Many victims assume they need to wait until the DUI prosecution is resolved before pursuing compensation. That’s not how it works. A civil injury claim against a drunk driver proceeds independently of any criminal charges. Whether the driver is charged, convicted, accepts ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition), or never faces prosecution at all, your right to file a civil claim is unaffected.

Evidence from the criminal proceeding, including BAC test results and police reports, can support your civil case. What can’t wait: surveillance footage from intersections or nearby businesses, witness recollections, and chemical test records can disappear within days. The earlier we get involved, the better positioned we are to build your claim.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Drunk Driving Crash?

The drunk driver is the primary defendant in most cases, but they aren’t always the only one. When a bar or restaurant serves a visibly intoxicated patron who then causes a crash, Pennsylvania’s Dram Shop Act (47 P.S. Section 4-493) may make that establishment civilly liable as well. As part of building the full claim in drunk driving cases, we investigate the role of any liquor sellers involved, including reviewing bar receipts, credit card records, and surveillance footage from the establishment.

This matters practically. Pennsylvania’s minimum required auto liability coverage is $15,000 per person, and medical bills from a serious crash can exceed that amount quickly. Commercial establishments typically carry liability insurance with higher policy limits than individual drivers, making a dram shop claim a significant additional source of recovery, particularly when the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured. Social hosts who knowingly provide alcohol to minors may also face civil liability when a crash results. A dram shop claim proceeds alongside the direct claim against the driver; pursuing one doesn’t foreclose the other.

What Damages Are Available in a Pennsylvania Drunk Driving Case?

A successful claim can recover two categories of losses. Economic damages include past and future medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and property damage. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, and loss of life’s pleasures.

Pennsylvania also permits punitive damages in drunk driving cases, separate from compensatory damages, when the driver’s conduct was particularly reckless. A significantly elevated BAC or a prior DUI conviction can support a punitive damages claim.

The Limited Tort Exception: Pennsylvania’s insurance system lets drivers elect limited tort coverage, which restricts recovery of pain and suffering damages in most crashes. Drunk driving is an exception: when the at-fault driver is convicted of DUI or accepts ARD, the limited tort restriction is removed and the victim can pursue full non-economic damages regardless of their own coverage election.

Pennsylvania also follows a modified comparative negligence rule. A victim who bears some share of fault can still recover as long as their portion is 50% or less, with the damages award reduced proportionally.

Why Victims Trust Liever, Hyman & Potter

Lead attorney John R. Badal has been admitted to the Pennsylvania bar since 1978 and to the U.S. Supreme Court since 1991. He is a member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, memberships that require documented case results at those dollar thresholds. He has served as Chairman of multiple Berks County Bar Association sections, including the Civil Litigation Section.

The legal community in Berks County has come to know our firm as “The Lawyers’ Lawyers.” A significant portion of our clients reach us through referrals from other law firms, which is a meaningful signal about how our record is regarded by attorneys who know this work. In a recent three-year period, our attorneys recovered more than 500 awards and settlements, including numerous million-dollar and multi-million-dollar results. Since 1959, we’ve won thousands of awards and settlements for victims and their families. Every case we accept is carefully reviewed and assigned to a Civil Trial attorney qualified to handle it. We don’t take cases we can’t commit to fully.

No fees. No case expenses. Not until we recover money for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Do I Have to File a Drunk Driving Injury Claim in Pennsylvania?

Generally, you have two years from the date of the accident. Missing that deadline typically forfeits your right to compensation entirely. Minors may have additional time, but the specifics depend on the circumstances. Don’t assume you have time to wait. An early consultation costs nothing and can help preserve your options.

What if the Drunk Driver had No Insurance or Fled the Scene?

Your own uninsured motorist coverage may provide compensation in that situation, making a prompt review of your own auto policy important. We can help identify every available source of recovery, including any dram shop liability if the driver was overserved before the crash.

Do I Need a Police Report or Arrest Before I Contact an Attorney?

No. You don’t need to wait for a report, an arrest, or any criminal proceeding to begin. The sooner an attorney is involved, the better the chance of preserving evidence that can make or break a civil claim.

Talk to a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Reading Today

A free consultation with Liever, Hyman & Potter means no cost to discuss your situation and no obligation to proceed. We serve clients in Reading, Pottsville, and throughout Berks County and Schuylkill County, as well as Eastern and Central Pennsylvania. If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver, or lost a family member in a drunk driving crash, we’re ready to review your case.

Call Liever, Hyman & Potter at (610) 885-1991 to speak with a Reading drunk driving accident attorney. There are no fees and no case expenses until we recover money for you.