How Do I File a Drunk Driving Accident Claim?
We are in the middle of the winter holiday season, which typically results in an increase
in the number of intoxicated drivers on the road. Your chances of being involved in a DUI accident increase beginning the day before Thanksgiving (Blackout Wednesday) and continuing through New Year’s Day.
If a drunk driver hits you this holiday season, the steps you take immediately after the accident can have a significant impact on your ability to recover full compensation for your injuries and damages. Our Erie personal injury attorney can help you file a drunk driving accident claim to protect your rights to fair compensation from a negligent driver.
Steps to take after a drunk driving accident include:
- Report the accident immediately by calling 911.
- Inform the police officer that you believe the driver of the other vehicle may be intoxicated.
- Ask eyewitnesses at the accident scene for their names and contact information.
- Seek immediate medical attention for your injuries.
- Document your financial losses and injuries.
- Don't discuss the DUI crash with the insurance company for the other driver until you consult with an experienced DUI accident attorney in Erie.
- Don't settle drunk driving accident claim right away or accept the first offer from the insurance company.
- Contact our Erie DUI accident attorney as soon as possible for a free consultation.
Continue Reading for More Information!
Insurance Companies May Be Responsible for Drunk Driving Accident Claims
The insurance company for the drunk driver may be liable for damages and losses caused
by the accident. The fact that the driver was intoxicated at the time of the crash does not invalidate the insurance policy for the driver. However, you must prove that the drunk driver caused the crash before you can recover compensation from the driver's insurance company.
The insurance company may aggressively fight the DUI accident claim by asserting its insured driver was not responsible for causing the crash, even though the driver might have been arrested for and convicted of a DUI offense. Therefore, you will need to conduct a comprehensive accident investigation to identify the
cause of the DUI accident and gather evidence to prove that the impaired driver caused the collision.
Proving a Drunk Driver Caused Your Car Accident
Steps that our Erie DUI accident lawyer may take when investigating the crash include, but are not limited to:
- Obtaining an reviewing the accident report and police statements related to the DUI crash.
- Subpoenaing records from any criminal case involving the drunk driver.
- Interviewing in obtaining statements from eyewitnesses.
- Searching for videos of the actual DUI crash, including video footage from traffic cameras, red-light cameras, and nearby surveillance cameras.
- Subpoenaing cell phone records for the drunk driver an investigating where the drunk driver was in the hours before the accident.
- Subpoenaing records from any vehicle data recording systems, such as a commercial vehicle's black box.
- Working closely with your physicians to prove that your injuries were a result of the car crash.
- Documenting your expenses, losses, and damages related to the DUI crash.
- Working with industry experts, when necessary, to prove the cause of the crash and substantiate your damages.
Hire an Erie Drunk Driving Accident Attorney to Handle Your Case
Sadly, drunk driving accidents cause catastrophic injuries and life-changing conditions for
innocent victims each day in the United States. In a matter of seconds, another
person's poor choice of driving under the influence of alcohol can turn your
life upside down.
If you are the victim of a drunk driver, protect your right to just compensation for your
injuries by talking to a drunk driving accident attorney near you as soon as
possible.
Call The Travis Law Firm at (800) 401-2066 to schedule your free legal consultation with our Erie DUI accident lawyer.