Do These 7 Things After Being Hit By A Drunk Driver
Drunk drivers cause thousands of accidents every year. The accidents can vary in severity, ranging from vehicle damage to serious body injuries. If you find yourself in such a situation, here are seven things you can do to ensure your safety and well-being after the accident.
1) Seek Medical Attention
If you were injured in an accident, you should immediately seek medical attention. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may need to go to an emergency room where the medical professionals can assess the damage and start treating you for any injuries necessitating treatment. Some injuries that require immediate medical attention include broken bones, internal bleeding, and head injuries. Even seemingly minor injuries should be checked out by a doctor because they could lead to more serious complications in the future if not treated properly.
2) Call the Police
If you were injured, you should also contact the police department about your accident. The police will write up an official report of the incident, which is beneficial for a number of reasons. An official report is important if you decide to file an insurance claim or if you intend to sue the person who hit you. Even if you don’t plan on suing the person who hit you, it is important to file an official report in case you change your mind in the future.
3) Contact Your Lawyer
If you were injured in a car accident and you believe it was the other driver’s fault, consider contacting an attorney. Contacting injury lawyers can help you take the appropriate next steps after your accident. You may opt to file a lawsuit against the other driver and your lawyer will be able to provide guidance throughout this process and seek compensation on your behalf. Also, if you need to file an insurance claim, your lawyer will be able to walk you through the process so that your insurer provides adequate compensation for your damages.
4) Contact Your Insurance Company
The whole process of filing an insurance claim after an accident can be complicated and frustrating. You should contact your insurance company as soon as you can after the accident. Your insurer will send out a claims adjuster to assess the damage, which includes estimating how much it will cost to fix the vehicle or replace the vehicle if it’s totalled. Sometimes you can get an appropriate claim, but other times you may have a hard time working with your insurer. In such a situation, having a lawyer is a big plus, as mentioned before, since he or she can help negotiate a fair claim on your behalf.
5) Document What Happened
One of the best things that you can do after an accident is to document what happened. If possible, take pictures of both your vehicle and the other driver’s vehicle after the accident. The pictures should help you estimate how much it will cost to fix your car or replace it if necessary, as well as corroborating your version of events. You should also document any lost income or missed work time due to injuries sustained during the accident.
6) Keep Track of Your Expenses
You should also document all of your expenses that may occur as the result of the collision, such as paying for medical treatment or repairing your vehicle. It’s important to record these expenses and submit them to both your insurer and the at-fault driver’s insurance company. This will help you ensure that you receive a sufficient amount of compensation for your damages.
7) Stay Calm
Lastly, it’s really important to stay calm. It doesn’t seem like much, but it’s an excellent piece of advice you can get. It’s easy to get frustrated and emotional when you’re in an accident, especially if you were severely injured. However, it is important that you remain calm and as level-headed as possible throughout the process so that you can make the best decisions possible after the crash.
If you ever find yourself in an accident caused by a drunk driver there are a few steps that you can take. It’s important to stay calm so you can make the best decisions possible for yourself. The first thing that you need to do is to seek medical attention because your health is your number one concern. After you’re alright, you can contact your lawyer and insurance company, so you can get a sufficient claim for your damages. Have these seven tips in your mind and you’ll have a better chance of successfully navigating the aftermath of an accident caused by a drunk driver.
