An impaired driver can ruin a night out, cause devastating catastrophic injuries, and lead to serious injuries and even the wrongful death of a loved one. A car accident, especially one involving an impaired driver, is a traumatic experience. The aftermath may leave you overwhelmed and unsure of the next steps to take.
Accidents involving impaired drivers can happen anytime, anywhere. The steps you should take after an accident involving an impaired driver are similar to what you’d do after a car accident with additional complexity. If you’ve been hit by a drunk or impaired driver, here’s what you need to do:
- Check for injuries: if you suspect you’re are injured, stay calm and try not to aggravate the injury further.
- Call 911 and report the accident: provide all necessary details to the 911 dispatcher and report any injuries.
- Try to move your vehicle: if your vehicle is drivable, try to move it out of traffic. A stalled car in the middle of the road can lead to another accident. In the case that your car is not drivable, turn your flashers on so other drivers can see your vehicle.
- Document all details of the accident: if you are able, document all the details of the accident scene with your smartphone. Write down every detail possible or type it into your phone.
- Take photos and video: evidence is key in any injury case. Take as many photos and videos as possible. If you observe the other driver’s behavior and suspect that he or she might be inebriated, record him or her with your smartphone for evidence.
- Mention the other driver’s impairment to the police: once the police arrive, make it clear you believe the other driver has been drinking. Explain what the other driver did to make you think he or she was inebriated. Let the officer know about your video of the driver’s inebriation, as well as any witnesses that can support your claim. Make sure to give a detailed statement about the accident.
- Get information from the at-fault driver: try to get the other driver’s name, contact information, and auto insurance information. If the other driver attempts to leave the scene of the accident, tell them that it is illegal to leave the scene of an auto accident and take down their license plate number.
After a crash with an impaired driver, it’s critically important to know that injuries are likely. In many crashes involving these drivers, victims tend to leave the scene of the accident in an ambulance. Even if you don’t think you are injured, it’s important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. The adrenaline rush after a crash tends to mask the pain and symptoms of injury. Your health is the most important consideration.
A visit the emergency room or urgent care after an accident for an examination that may include X-rays and a full medical exam to diagnose any hidden injuries should happen. Injuries like whiplash frequently take a few days or even weeks to manifest. Once a doctor diagnoses your injuries, it is important to keep all documentation from your visits, including reports, discharge papers, imaging, and any other information for your personal injury case and maintaining a daily log of how you are feeling is quite helpful as well.
We represent people who are injured because of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. The reason that insurance companies have paid our clients in excess of $130,000,000.00 is that we get the facts and are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial when insurance companies fail to offer full compensation. We help with serious injuries that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth, LLP. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of experience specializing in only representing injured people. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or visit www.gblegal.com We would be honored to represent you!
