If you have been injured in a DUI accident, your whole life can change in an instant. Not only will you have to deal with devastating injuries and debilitating pain, but you will now have to endure extensive medical bills that can affect you and your whole family. However, you do not have to go through this horrifying ordeal on your own. You deserve compensation and justice for the damages you sustained, and in this blog post, we will discuss the steps you need to take to go after this financial recovery.
Contact 911 Immediately After a DUI Accident
Following a DUI accident, you need to call 911. This is the fastest way to get the accident on record and notify emergency medical services if you or someone at the scene needs medical help.
Once the police arrive, they can investigate the accident, write down their findings in their police report and charge the driver with DUI. If you decide to pursue an injury claim, this report can provide you with necessary details regarding what happened and who was at fault.
Gather Evidence From the Scene
If you believe that the other driver involved in the crash was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, watch for suspicious behavior such as slurred speech as you are waiting for the police to arrive and document it with your phone.
In addition, if the area is safe, make sure you try to get as many pictures and videos of the accident as you can. Include photos of your visible injuries, the vehicles involved in the crash, traffic signs near the accident scene, skid marks on the road, and any other evidence that can help show what happened.
Get Driver Information
Try to exchange information with the other drivers involved in the crash, including names, contact details, insurance information, and driver license numbers. However, if the other driver is being combative or is too intoxicated to provide you with these details, wait for the police to arrive.
Obtain Witness Details
If there were individuals at the scene who saw what happened, make sure you get their names and contact details. Witness statements can often provide you with valuable evidence regarding the accident and help back up your claims. Yet, if these witnesses do not want to offer you their information, do not force them. Instead, when you retain an experienced car accident lawyer, these attorneys can work on obtaining this information and testimony for you.
Watch What You Say
As you are talking to the other drivers and witnesses at the accident scene, you need to watch what you say. You want to make sure you avoid making any definitive statements, taking fault for anything that happened, or apologizing for the accident. These types of accounts can come back and hurt you later on, affecting the amount of money you can receive.
Get Examined By a Doctor
Even if you believe your injuries are not that serious, you still need to get examined by a doctor. This is because serious injuries such as severe head and brain trauma can often take days to even weeks to manifest. Yet, the longer you wait to get medical help, the more deadly the injury can become. For these reasons, it is best to get to a doctor as soon as possible following a DUI car accident.
In addition, getting medical treatment promptly after your crash is also vital for your case. Insurance companies will try to do anything to deny your claim or decrease the amount of money you can receive. By not getting prompt medical assistance, the insurer will argue that your injuries are not that serious or a result of a subsequent event. Fortunately, when you see a doctor shortly after your accident, these doctors can write down information regarding your injuries in their medical report, ultimately providing you with evidence of a direct link between the harm you sustained and the accident.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer As Soon As Possible
If you have been harmed in a DUI accident, getting the money you need for the harm and losses you endured is not as easy as many individuals expect it to be. In truth, there are various legal hurdles victims need to jump over to get this compensation.
However, you do not have to go through this complex legal battle on your own. Once you retain a skilled car accident lawyer, these attorneys can provide you the legal help you need, including:
- Evaluating your potential legal claim and going over your legal options
- Answering all of your questions and providing you with the support you require during this challenging time.
- Investigating your case thoroughly and obtaining the evidence needed to show fault and damages.
- Handling all the discussions and negotiations with the insurance company.
- Bringing in the experts such as accident reconstructionists and doctors to substantiate your claims.
- Taking your case to trial, if needed, and fighting for the maximum damages you deserve.
If a DUI accident disrupted your life or the life of a loved one, do not wait any longer to seek legal help. Instead, reach out to an experienced dui lawyer santa rosa ca and let these dui lawyer santa rosa ca show you how they can fight for you and your rights
