Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 30 people in the U.S. die each day in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers. In other words, someone dies every 51 minutes and someone is injured every 90 seconds as the result of alcohol-related vehicle accident. In the end, alcohol-related accidents have an annual costs that topple $59 billion. The worst part is that these deaths, injuries, and gargantuan costs are all preventable. However, drunk drivers are unfortunately one of the risks of driving on today’s roads. If you are injured by a drunk driver, it’s important to know what to do to protect yourself. Use the following steps to to protect yourself from further harm and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Dial 911
First things first: it’s imperative to call 911 and report the drunk driver so the authorities can effectively investigate the accident and make appropriate arrests. If you are injured as a result of the accident, it’s imperative to receive medical attention as soon as you can. In the event you are forced to file a lawsuit to recover your medical costs and seek compensation, your visit to the emergency room or doctor could be vital evidence in your case.
Get Witness Information
In most cases, when there is an accident there are people or witnesses who see the accident. Make sure you write down their contact information, including:
- Names
- Addresses
- Phone numbers
- Any other relevant information
It’s important to get the contact information of any bystander or witness because they can be vital assets later in court.
Get Incident Documentation
With today’s proliferation of camera-enabled smartphones, it will prove highly beneficial to take a video and pictures of the scene. You may also want to make a quick sketch of the scene documenting where each bystander or witness was located. In the case of photos and video footage, the more you have the better.
Contact an Atlanta, GA Car Accident Attorney
Simply put, any attorney will not do. You need an experienced Atlanta, GA car accident attorney specializing in personal injury law to assist you in pursuing your claim against the party responsible for you injuries and compensation. Your Atlanta, GA car accident attorney can then:
- obtain your medical records
- interview and review the case with any bystanders
- call expert witnesses to further strengthen your case
Contact Your Insurance Company
Depending on the circumstances of the accident, you may decide to contact your insurance company before you call your Atlanta, GA car accident attorney. In any case, after you have received the appropriate medical attention and documented the accident, your insurance company should be informed of the accident. In addition, it’s important to let them know about the accident in a timely fashion. However, most victims of drunk driving accidents choose to speak to their Atlanta, GA car accident attorney before they speak to their insurance company to make sure their rights are protected.
In a large number of alcohol-related accidents, more than one party can be legally responsible for the injuries suffered in an accident. For example, if the brakes on a vehicle failed while an impaired driver was operating the vehicle, you could be able to recover damages from the impaired driver and the auto maker or manufacturer of the faulty brakes. As a result, it’s imperative to have an effective Atlanta, GA car accident attorney experienced in personal injury law protect your rights. If you have been injured in an accident due to a drunk driver by giving us a call or fill out our simple online contact form.