Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in St. Louis

Over $100 Million Recovered. Trial-Ready Attorneys Who Come to You.

Drunk driving accidents aren’t ordinary car crashes. A driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC), criminal charges, and prior record can all directly strengthen a civil injury claim. In Missouri, the bar or restaurant that over-served them may share liability too. At Kolker Law Firm, our attorneys have recovered over $100 million for injured clients across Missouri and bring more than 40 years of combined legal experience to every case we handle.

Insurance adjusters move fast after a crash. Early legal representation can help protect the full value of your claim before key evidence disappears and before you say something an adjuster can use against you.

Contact us at (314) 684-8285 to schedule your free consultation. There’s no fee unless we recover on your behalf.

Who Can Be Held Liable After a Drunk Driving Crash

The drunk driver is the obvious defendant, but Missouri law sometimes provides a second avenue for recovery. Under Missouri’s dram shop statute, RSMo § 537.053, a licensed on-premises alcohol seller (bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and similar establishments) can be held civilly liable if they knowingly served a visibly intoxicated patron or someone under 21 who then caused injury.

Missouri defines visible intoxication as significantly uncoordinated physical action or significant physical dysfunction. BAC alone doesn’t satisfy the standard, which means evidence of how the patron appeared and behaved at the establishment matters. The statute applies only to commercial licensees selling alcohol for on-premises consumption. Off-premises retailers and social hosts serving adult guests aren’t covered.

Important limitations to know:

• Dram shop claims require clear and convincing evidence, a higher burden than standard personal injury claims
• Surveillance footage from bars and restaurants is typically overwritten within days of an incident
• We can send preservation letters immediately to prevent that evidence from being lost
• When both a commercial establishment and the drunk driver share liability, Missouri’s joint liability rules may create multiple potential sources of recovery

Compensation Available to St. Louis Drunk Driving Accident Victims

A successful claim can include economic damages covering past and future medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, and long-term care costs. Non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life, are also recoverable.

Missouri allows punitive damages in drunk driving cases where the driver’s conduct shows conscious disregard for the safety of others. They aren’t guaranteed, but when the facts support them, we pursue them. If the at-fault driver was uninsured or underinsured, your own UM or UIM coverage may provide additional recovery, as may a dram shop claim against the establishment that served them. Families who have lost a loved one may pursue a separate wrongful death claim for loss of support, services, and companionship under Missouri’s wrongful death statute.

What to Do After a Drunk Driving Accident in St. Louis

The steps you take immediately after a crash can shape the outcome of your civil claim. Here’s what matters most:

• Call 911: Officers document the scene, administer sobriety tests, and produce a police report noting alcohol involvement
• Seek medical care without delay: Adrenaline can mask pain. Some injuries appear hours or days after impact
• Photograph everything: The scene, vehicle damage, visible injuries, and any open containers near the other vehicle if it’s safe to do so
• Collect witness contact information before people leave the scene
• Don’t discuss the accident with the other driver’s insurer before speaking with an attorney
• Contact an attorney quickly: The criminal case produces BAC results, arrest reports, and bodycam footage that can support your civil claim

Why St. Louis Victims Choose Kolker Law Firm

Our attorneys are recognized among the National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Missouri and are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum®, the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®, and the American Board of Trial Advocates. The firm holds an AV® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell® and has been recognized in Super Lawyers®. Those credentials reflect a record that insurers know about, which is why many of our cases resolve favorably before trial. When insurers refuse reasonable offers, we take cases to trial.

We also operate differently from larger regional firms. Our attorneys can meet you at your home or in the hospital, including evenings and weekends. You get direct attorney access from day one, not a rotating cast of paralegals. Every case we handle is taken on a contingency basis: no fee unless we achieve a settlement or verdict on your behalf.

Speak with a St. Louis Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Today

If you or a family member was injured by a drunk driver in the St. Louis area, the time to act is now. Evidence disappears quickly, and early representation can help protect your claim at every stage. We offer free initial consultations with no obligation and no fee unless we recover for you.

Call (314) 684-8285 to reach our team. We’re available after hours and can come to you.