Phoenix Drunk Driving Accident Attorney

Fighting For Drunk Driving Accident Victims in Arizona

The driver who hit you made a choice. They chose to get behind the wheel knowing they were impaired. That choice has consequences, and not just the criminal kind. 
Arizona gives drunk driving victims legal tools that most car accident cases simply don't have access to. Punitive damages. Dram shop liability against the bar or restaurant that kept pouring. A criminal investigation producing evidence that your civil attorney can use. When these cases are handled right, the difference in what you recover can be significant.

At Rafi Law Group, we handle drunk driving injury cases throughout the Phoenix metro. We investigate fast, we pursue every available source of recovery, and we don't settle until the number reflects what your injuries actually cost, now and down the road.

What Drunk Driving Looks Like on Phoenix Roads

Phoenix accounts for roughly 38% of all alcohol-related crashes in Arizona, which is a disproportionate share for a single city, and one that reflects both the Valley's size and its concentration of entertainment districts, late-night corridors, and high-speed freeways.

According to the Arizona Department of Transportation's 2024 Crash Facts report, there were 1,351 alcohol-related crashes in Phoenix in 2024. Statewide, nearly 44% of all alcohol-involved collisions happened on Friday and Saturday nights. The pattern holds locally: the highest-risk windows are late evenings near downtown Phoenix, Old Town Scottsdale, and the Tempe Mill Avenue corridor — areas where rideshare demand, bar traffic, and vehicle speeds converge in predictable ways.

Wrong-way DUI crashes have also increased on Valley freeways. In early 2026, the I-17, I-10 near Sky Harbor, and US-60 near Tempe all saw wrong-way impaired driving incidents resulting in deaths and severe injuries. These aren't freak accidents; they're a pattern, and they tend to produce some of the most serious injury cases our attorneys see.

Understanding this geography matters. Evidence in drunk driving cases, such as surveillance footage from nearby businesses, traffic camera data, or dashcam video from surrounding vehicles, has a short window before it disappears. Where and when your crash happened shapes how we investigate and what we pursue.

Why Drunk Driving Cases Can Recover More Than Standard Accidents

In a typical car accident claim, the goal is to make you whole by recovering what the crash cost you financially, physically, and emotionally. Drunk driving cases can go further than that, and the reason comes down to one word: intent.

Arizona courts can award punitive damages when a defendant's conduct reflects what the law calls an "evil mind" (conscious disregard for the safety of other people). Choosing to drive while impaired clears that bar. When the driver's BAC was substantially elevated, when they had prior DUI convictions, or when they showed clear awareness that they were unfit to drive and got behind the wheel anyway, the foundation for punitive damages is often strong.

What makes this especially significant for Phoenix drunk driving victims is that Arizona does not cap punitive damage awards. There is no statutory ceiling. A jury can award whatever amount they believe is appropriate to punish the conduct and deter others. That uncapped exposure changes how insurance carriers calculate risk, and it changes what they are willing to offer before a case reaches a courtroom.

Not every drunk driving case qualifies for punitive damages, and we will not overstate your chances. But we evaluate every case for that argument from the start, because when the facts support it, it materially affects your outcome. Talk to our team about what the facts in your case could support.

The Bar That Overserved May Be Liable Too

Here is something most people don't know when they're first dealing with a drunk driving injury: the driver may not be the only party you can hold accountable.

Arizona Revised Statutes § 4-311 establishes civil liability for any licensed alcohol establishment, a bar, restaurant, hotel lounge, event venue, or liquor store that serves alcohol to someone who is obviously intoxicated, or to anyone under 21. If that person then gets behind the wheel and injures you, the establishment shares legal responsibility for what happened.

"Obviously intoxicated" under Arizona law means the person's impairment was visible with slurred speech, substantially uncoordinated movement, or significantly impaired judgment displayed in a way that a reasonable person behind the bar could observe. It does not require a BAC test at the point of service. What it requires is evidence that the signs were there and the establishment kept serving anyway.

Why does pursuing the establishment matter?

The drunk driver who hit you may carry the state minimum in auto liability coverage, sometimes as low as $25,000. A commercial establishment's liability policy is typically far larger. When both parties are liable, your total recovery potential increases substantially. Additionally, the criminal investigation into the driver often produces evidence such as toxicology reports, a timeline of events, and witness accounts that directly support the dram shop claim against whoever was serving them.

Time is the critical factor here. Security footage at bars and restaurants gets overwritten quickly. Our attorneys can send preservation letters and pursue this evidence immediately in drunk driving cases. If the driver who injured you was drinking at a licensed establishment before the crash, contact Rafi Law Group now — waiting costs you evidence.

Recovering Damages for a Drunk Driving Accident

While every case is unique, our attorneys can help you recover benefits for losses, including:

• Medical bills
• Bereavement
• Therapy & rehabilitation
• Lost income from missed work

Why Choose the Rafi Law Group?

Phoenix attorney Brandon Rafi has dedicated his practice to helping those who have been injured through no fault of their own. This strict focus on personal injury law makes him keenly familiar with the laws and codes surrounding car accidents, including those involving drunk drivers.