Drunk drivers kill thousands of people each year, including themselves sometimes. Most of the world’s governments severely prosecute people convicted of drunk driving, because their behavior negatively impacts many people’s lives each year. Drunk driving incidents are completely unnecessary. Because of this, if you have been injured by a person who was drunk driving, you need to spare no expense in getting compensation from them and ensuring that they get punished.
This post will tell you how you can get compensated for injuries caused by a drunk driver.
Law Enforcement
As mentioned in this post’s introduction, drunk driving is against the law in most places. If you are involved in an accident and the person who caused it was under the influence of alcohol, then it is vital that you contact the police. In a normal car accident, you would only contact the police to notify them of the crash, which you can do the next day. After a collision with a drunk driver, however, you need to call them immediately. This is so that they can arrest them, and also measure the amount of alcohol present in their blood. According to an article published at https://accidentnewsnow.com/category/car-accidents/, the reason that the police prosecute drunk drivers is that people operating a car while drunk have delayed reaction times, impaired judgment, lowered alertness, and loss of muscle control. After phoning law enforcement, call for an ambulance.
Acquiring Evidence
While on the scene of the accident, it’s a very good idea to try and acquire as much evidence as you possibly can. A lot of people underestimate the importance of evidence taken directly from the scene. Having it can bolster your case and ensure that you get the compensation that you deserve. The best evidence in the case of a drunk driving incident would be video footage of the drunk driver, any of your injuries, or the damage that they have done to your vehicle (and their own). You should try to get footage of their license plate numbers, too.
Legal Representation
You will need a lawyer’s help if you want to get compensation. The compensation claim process is notoriously complex. There’s no way that you will be able to negotiate with insurance adjusters and get a good compensation payout on your own. You don’t have to have a lot of money spare to employ a lawyer, since most personal injury lawyers operate on a no-win-no-fee basis, meaning that you only pay them if they win. At the end of your claim when they have won you money, they take a percentage of the final payout.
Injury Recovery
After an accident, you need to take time to recover. It’s important to know that there is a statute of limitations in all U.S. states regarding the length of time that you have to make a claim after a car accident. It usually sits at around two years but is never any less than one year. You should find out what your state’s statute of limitations are so that you know how much time you have to rest. If the police deal with the accident as a criminal matter, then it may be best to wait until the person has been prosecuted and dealt with anyway, so you have verifiable proof in the eyes of insurance adjusters that the guilty driver was drunk.
Medical Certificate
When you are taken to the hospital (if that’s necessary) after your accident, it’s a good idea to get a written medical certificate from the triaging nurse and duty doctor. Both of these people can co-sign your certificate, stating that you came in with the injuries that you did. It’s a very good idea to get a medical certificate since it is undeniable proof that you were injured because of the drunk driver’s negligence. You can then submit this certificate as evidence to the insurance company your lawyer is petitioning for compensation or to the courts if the matter goes to civil court.
Having Patience
Finally, you should be aware that the compensation claim process can be drawn out, complex, and very long. Make sure that you have patience. You can’t rush the process. Your lawyer will do their best for you. All you really have to do is to sit back and let them do their job. If you rush them or bother them, then you could interfere with their progress. Don’t try to micromanage, either. They are experienced and know what they are doing.
After a car accident that’s been caused by a drunk person, it’s important that you seek justice. In the context of a car accident, justice comes in the form of financial compensation, paid by the guilty driver’s insurance company. Additionally, you may also be able to take them to court and sue them. It’s important that you get the justice that you deserve.
