Personal injury attorneys with experience handling drunk driving cases are equipped to represent their clients in a court of law.
The following are important steps you need to take if you’ve been injured by a drunk driver.
Knowing what to do and getting the help you need to navigate the complex legal system will help you get the compensation you deserve.
What to Do at the Scene of a Drunk Driving Accident
Call the police and paramedics as soon as you’ve been injured by a drunk driver. The responding police officers can create a report that you can use as evidence in your legal claim.
Look for anyone else who may have been hurt by the drunk driver. But make sure you place yourself and others out of harm’s way. Be aware of surrounding traffic and any pedestrians who may have been injured in the accident.
Avoid moving anyone who is seriously injured. Moving someone without knowing the extent of their injuries can do more harm. The only exception is when a person’s life is in danger and they need to be moved to a safer location.
Protecting Your Legal Rights After a Drunk Driving Accident
The extent of your injuries may not be apparent right away. So you should never refuse medical attention after an accident.
Getting proper medical care lets you document your injuries. Pain, loss of function, and other issues can arise long after an injury has taken place. You can use medical records as evidence to support your case against a drunk driver.
Take photographs or video of the accident. Include the vehicles involved and all injuries. Eyewitnesses can provide invaluable testimony. Get the contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident.
Never make any statements that might imply you were at fault. The statements you make to others can be used against you.
Contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney can assess your injuries and the evidence you’ve gathered.
A Georgia personal injury attorney can investigate the scene of the accident and obtain surveillance video footage from surrounding businesses or residences.
Getting the Compensation You Deserve Under Georgia Law
A skilled personal injury lawyer can provide the swift and aggressive legal representation you need. They can help you hold an at-fault drunk driver accountable for the accident that resulted in your injuries.
Personal injury attorneys can prove an at-fault driver’s negligence. They can show insurance companies and the courts that a driver’s reckless behavior caused your accident.
But an attorney can also demonstrate that your injuries were a direct result of the collision and that they’ve led to long-term physical, mental, and financial damages.
Under Georgia state law, injured drivers and passengers can receive compensation to cover medical expenses, pain and suffering, the loss of a loved one, and damage to personal property.
Your attorney can negotiate with insurance companies. They can protect you from accepting unfair settlement offers so that you can get the compensation you’re entitled to receive.
Drunk driving accidents can lead to severe injuries that can devastate the lives of victims and their families. Cases involving the death of a loved one can threaten the financial wellbeing of those they leave behind.
With the help of a skilled attorney who understands drunk driving accidents in Georgia, you can get compensated for your injuries and damages while defending your rights under the law.
