Steps to Take If You’re Involved in an Accident with a Drunk Driver
Any kind of car accident can be traumatic, but when a drunk driver is involved, it can be even more difficult to come to terms with the fact that another driver got behind the wheel while intoxicated, completely disregarding how their actions could affect other people on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that over 10,000 people are killed in drunk driving accidents every year, which shows just how devastating a wreck caused by an intoxicated driver can be.
A drunk driver’s negligence that leads to a crash should not be ignored. Our Jackson car accident lawyer at Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC can help you hold the intoxicated driver responsible for their actions that led to your accident and any subsequent injuries and damages.
The steps you take after an accident with a drunk driver are pretty similar to those you would take after a regular car accident, but there are slight differences. Let’s take a look at the steps you should take if you’re involved in an accident with a drunk driver.
Call Emergency Services
Just like a regular car accident, after an accident with a drunk driver, you should first try to pull over to the side of the road out of the way of other traffic and assess yourself for any injuries. If your injuries are too severe to move, then stay put and wait for emergency services to arrive. If you can move around and get out of the car, then get out and to safety so you don’t risk getting even more injuries.
Once you’re safe, you can dial 911 and call to get emergency services to the scene. Medical professionals and police will arrive to help anyone with injuries and file a report. Since the other driver is drunk, they’ll also need to breathalyze or take blood from the drunk driver to determine just how impaired they are.
Avoid Confrontation with the Drunk Driver
Drunk people can sometimes be easily angered and combative. After a car accident, a drunk driver could be confrontational and try to start a fight with you just because they collided with your car. It’s safest to avoid speaking with the drunk driver so you don’t have to worry about getting into an argument with the driver, which could harm your case later.
No matter how hard you try to stay away, they might follow you and harass you. If needed, you should stay in your car with the doors locked to avoid speaking with the drunk driver. When the police eventually arrive, you should speak with them immediately.
Speak with the Police and Get Witness Contact Information
As with any other accident, it’s important that you speak with the police and be honest about what happened in the accident. Even though you might see that the drunk driver was clearly the one who caused the accident, you shouldn’t place blame on anyone, including yourself by apologizing, even if it’s out of habit. Tell the officer the facts of what happened and try to remain as objective as possible.
After speaking with the police, you should ask any witnesses of the accident for their contact information. This can help you later with your insurance claim or car accident claim and can strengthen your statements that you already gave if everyone is honest about what they saw. Of course, stories will differ, but the police and other officials will be better able to piece together a clear idea of what happened when they get more statements from witnesses.
Take Pictures of the Scene
Even though you gave an honest report and got the contact information for witnesses, you’ll still want to document the scene as best as you can. Take pictures of the scene, including weather, objects in the road, damage done to your car, damage to any other cars, and even pictures of visible injuries that you acquired. This ensures that you have proof of the direct damages that the collision caused to you and your property.
Seek Medical Attention
For your own health, and to help build your claim, you’ll want to seek medical attention immediately after your accident. Even if you don’t think you were hurt, the shock of the crash could be masking any pain that you would feel from injuries, so it’s best to see a doctor to be evaluated. That way if you are hurt, you can get treatment right away, start to heal, and get full documentation of any injuries that the wreck caused.
Hire Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC in Jackson, MS
When you’ve been in an accident with a drunk driver in Mississippi that leaves you with injuries, you could be upset and confused how someone could be so negligent to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. At Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC, we understand how you’re feeling and will ensure that you get the justice you deserve.
Our experienced Jackson drunk driving accident lawyer will fully investigate your claim to build the strongest case possible. While we handle the legal side of things to hold the negligent driver responsible for their actions, you’ll be able to focus on healing. Reach out to us today so we can get started on your claim as soon as possible.
