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Is drunk driving considered a civil case?

I’m working on a presentation for my students and I want to make sure that I have all of the details right. I’m not sure if drunk driving is a civil case or a criminal case. What type of case is drunk driving?

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Liz Jenson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
In most states, drunk driving or driving while intoxicated is considered a criminal case, but an injured party might pursue a civil case by filing a
personal injury lawsuit
.
Drunk driving itself will be punished as a criminal offense partially because there is not always another party involved. A personal injury case (and any other lawsuit that attempts to compensate victims), however, would fall under civil law. Most of these lawsuits will be carried out by the insurance companies involved rather than by the victim(s) or offender.
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