Steps You Can Take After Being Injured in a Drunk Driving Accident – Guest Post

Unfortunately, there’s always a chance for bad things to happen when you least expect it. This can be even worse when the disaster is an accident that can severely negatively impact your life. In fact, one of the prime examples of this can be getting into a car accident with a drunk driver. The impact this can have on you, not only physically but also monetarily and emotionally, can leave scars that last a lifetime. If you were harmed physically or financially due to the wreck, here are some steps and suggestions for what to do next.

Get Medical Assistance

In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, especially after an accident with a drunk driver, it’s important to prioritize the safety of yourself and your loved ones. After all, many accidents involving drunk drivers can be incredibly deadly. Even if you think you are okay, you may actually not be. Internal injuries that can be life-threatening can be hard to detect right away. It’s always best to play it safe when your health is potentially at risk.

Alert Authorities

The police should be called as soon as it’s possible to do so safely. In fact, the police should be contacted any time there is a two-car accident, no matter how minor. This is so they can create a police report of the accident. The creation of a police report will be extremely important in regard to insurance claims and any potential legal fallout that might result from the accident. It is doubly more important in the case of a drunk driving accident in which the drunk driver should be criminally punished.

Alert Your Insurance Carrier

Your car insurance company will also need to be notified immediately of the accident. Not doing so as quickly as possible can cause problems with you being able to obtain the coverage you actually paid for through your insurance premiums.

Hire an Attorney and Pursue Compensation

After you alert the authorities and your insurance carrier regarding the accident, you should also contact an attorney. Don’t contact just any lawyer. Instead, choose a drunk driving accident lawyer with years of experience winning similar cases. This is especially the case if you have suffered significant injuries, temporary or permanent, as a result of the crash. You will need that legal expertise to help you get the compensation you deserve in a court of law.

Pursue Criminal Charges

Drunk drivers are dangerous. Even if you survived the accident, the next victims of that drunk driver may not be so lucky. Sadly, drunk drivers tend to be re-offenders. You should certainly communicate with the district attorney of your jurisdiction regarding your wish to have the drunk driver prosecuted. If you don’t, it may be possible that the dunk driver will enter a plea bargain to obtain a reduced sentence.

Overall, don’t wait to take action immediately after a collision with a drunk driver. Not doing so can be disastrous. The drunk driver should be punished. You also deserve to be compensated for everything you have lost as a result of the accident.