You might know that the first thing to do if you are the victim of a car accident with a drunk driver is to contact the policy by calling 911. However, do you know what additional steps should be taken? Do you know what to do to stay safe and to protect any right you might have to file a personal injury claim? Keep reading for the facts and then contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
You Need to Get the Police There as Soon as Possible
With other car accidents, if there are no serious injuries and if there is not more than $1,000 in property damage, you might not be required to contact the police at all. However, if someone was drinking and driving, or you suspect they were, then you sold call the police immediately regardless of how serious the accident is. You need the police to respond to the scene for many reasons, including their ability to determine if someone was legally intoxicated.
Check to See if Anyone Needs Immediate Medical Care
While in a perfect world, you could wait for the ambulance and EMT to arrive, if there is a serious, life-threatening injury, you might need to respond. Remember that if you suspect that someone has injured their back or neck, they should not be moved unless doing so could save their life. Talk to the 911 operator about the injuries you see and they should be able to help you determine if you need to take action.
Get Your Vehicle to a Safe Space
If your vehicle is able to be driven, move it to a safe space that is not in traffic. If it can not be driven or moved, get out of the vehicle and find a safer place to wait for the police to respond. Your disabled vehicle could be struck by another driver who does not see it, which could put you at further risk if you are in the vehicle.
Gather Evidence
It is not uncommon for a drunk driver to try to leave the scene of an accident. This is one of the reasons that if you are safe to do so, you should consider gathering as much evidence as possible. This could involve taking photos of the vehicles involved (including their license plates), taking pictures of empty bottles, or video of the driver acting intoxicated. Remember that without evidence, it could come down to your word against theirs.
Get Medical Care
If you are injured, even if it is a minor issue that seems to be nothing more than a sprain or a scratch, it is essential that you have it looked at and documented by a medical professional. This can be essential to winning a personal injury case. Remember that you can contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 to request a free consultation to determine what your legal rights are.
