5 Steps To Take After A Drunk Driving Accident

5 Steps To Take After A Drunk Driving Accident

By:


Drunk driving causes many car accidents every day. When someone else is drunk and operating a car and hits you, are you going to have a good injury case? If you are hurt in a car accident because of the fault of a drunk driver, will you still have to fight the insurance company for help to pay medical bills?

1. If you are able, call the police as soon as possible (before you leave the scene). In case you are hurt in a car accident, an ambulance should arrive on the scene. If the other driver that hit you was drunk, call the police.

2. Always follow the criminal case that the drunk driver might have. The criminal case against the drunk driver could affect the way that the insurance company decides to pay you. Many things can happen in the criminal case against the drunk driver that could impact or ruin your civil case.

3. Be careful if the drunk driver files for bankruptcy. Some people think that they can file for bankruptcy and avoid having to pay for a personal injury settlement, but that isn't always the case because there are safeguards in place to prevent people from abusing the system.

4. Watch your words when you speak with an insurance adjuster. There is never a guarantee someone is guilty until a court has said so. Another thing the insurance company can do is argue something along the lines that you were also in some part at fault for the accident so they don't have to pay the full extent of the damages. This could reduce the amount that they will pay out.

5. Speak to an injury lawyer. Many people get hurt in a car accident and don't have to talk to an injury lawyer. But, if you are somebody that was hurt in a drunk driving crash, you most likely aren't one of them. Because there are actually two cases--a civil and criminal--these types of injury cases may be too complex for someone to handle on their own. Here's what a personal injury lawyer can do: they will fight the insurance company to get the most to help pay your medical bills.


About the Author:
Jim Brown is a personal injury attorney based in St. Louis, Missouri. He has written several publications, including a guide for accidents in Missouri and Illinois. You can request a free copy of, "I Survived! The Crash Victim's Guide to Dealing with the Aftermath," to help you get through the post-accident period by going to his website at http://www.CastleLaw.net and clicking "Contact Us."



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


|

Loading...
Related....
Videos...

Recent Legal Articles

Comments

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Loading

Copyright 2005-2011 ArticleSnatch, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.