If you’ve been in an accident with a drunk driver, CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm may be able to help. Our team is dedicated to serving the Lawrenceville community, and we have trusted members standing by to understand the details of your case personally.
Every drunk driving accident has unique factors and variables, but we’ll commit our knowledge, experience, and resources to advocating for your best interests along the way. When you are feeling stress or pressure from the opposing side, their insurer, or your own inability to keep up with the taxing steps of an injury claim, we are here to step in and help.
At The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, one of our primary goals is to serve our clients and help them feel confident in the legal process ahead. Your first consultation comes at no cost, and there is no obligation to commit to our services.
We want to give each potential client a chance to understand the legal process, to discuss their best course of action, and to ask any pressing questions about their case. To schedule your free case review today, call us at (770) 525-9098 or contact us online.
A Lawrenceville Drunk Driving Attorney Can Help
Every weeknight between 10 pm and 1 am, 1 in 13 drivers have a blood alcohol content at or above the legal limit of 0.08%. Driving under the influence of any mind-altering substance is illegal in every state, but people aren’t known to make responsible decisions when intoxicated.
It can be nerve-wracking to be on the road with a drunk driver and even scarier when you endure the impact of an accident. We’re all met with important decisions to make throughout life, and sometimes, not getting behind the wheel can be one of the best ones.
About every 39 minutes, a drunk driver creates a fatal accident. Drivers under the influence are often unpredictable because of impaired instincts and reflexes, leaving everyone on the road in danger.
After a car accident, many victims are left in the dark about what happens next. Truth be told, as far as your claim to a recovery settlement goes, virtually nothing happens if you don’t take action.
Being responsible for moving your claim along can feel like juggling anchors while managing new injuries. You don’t have to endure the process alone, though, when professionals like The CEO Lawyer can act as professional eyes and ears overseeing the steps of your case, ensuring that your settlement is undervalued and that you have legal backing if you want to escalate to a lawsuit.
The services of an attorney vary from case to case, but there are some standard benefits that a lawyer can offer that greatly impact the journey of legal proceedings and maximize your chances of a favorable outcome in the end.
- Organizing all collected documentation: An accident will leave you with a mountain of paperwork that feels impossible to get through. Doctors notes, car estimates, police reports — the list never ends. An attorney can help you understand how each of these documents impacts your claim, make sure any needed paperwork is complete, and keep it all organized on your behalf.
- Managing communication with all outside parties: While you’re in the early days of healing, the last thing you’ll want to do is have the same conversation recounting your experience, being asked roundabout questions, and wasting precious hours of your time. Your lawyer will represent you through most communication, so you don’t have to worry about saying the right or wrong thing in a meeting that could impact your claim.
- Helping you understand the laws, regulations, and best practices around your case: Every state has its own laws surrounding accidents, drunk drivers, and how to merge those topics together. An attorney has spent years studying these statutes as well as prior case outcomes and can break down the most important information that relates to your case.
- Investigating your accident, including a thorough evaluation of claims of negligence: An attorney can point out fine details that would otherwise be missed by a regular person looking over their case. A lawyer can deep-dive into your claim, intentionally searching for unique details that may prove to be favorable later.
- Negotiating on your behalf: Naturally, the whole claim process can be overwhelming for an accident victim, but getting through negotiations is undoubtedly one of the most unnerving. How do you put a settlement figure together and confidently argue the value? Your lawyer will take this responsibility off of your hands and use past experience and knowledge to defend a comfortable settlement amount for the damages expressed.
What Should I Do After an Accident?
An accident with a drunk driver is a uniquely dangerous situation. As previously expressed, a drunk driver is more unpredictable to interact with, making confrontation after the accident risky. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t check on the other driver if you can, but know to proceed with caution.
An accident can feel overwhelming and shocking, but the steps that follow should be pretty straightforward. Once you’ve experienced the initial shock of an accident, there are some important steps that every victim should prioritize to reduce the risk that the validity of their claim can be questioned and to limit bumps in the road later on.
Listed below are some of the most critical actions that a drunk driving accident victim can take to thoroughly protect their claim.
Call the Police
Some accidents that don’t involve injuries or significant vehicle damage can be solved without the involvement of law enforcement, but collisions involving drunk drivers cannot. If you believe another party involved in your accident was under the influence, it is crucial that you immediately report the accident and have an officer respond.
Law enforcement will document the details of the scene, perform a sobriety test, and potentially make an on-site arrest.
Remember, you cannot just accuse someone of being under the influence. The police and emergency services are the only people who can declare a person intoxicated after a crash because of the technology they can access, so it is critical to have law enforcement and first responders handle the proceedings of identifying a drunk driver.
See a Doctor
One of the most important steps for any accident victim is to seek immediate medical attention following impact. Many drivers can walk away unaware of the full extent of their injuries because hormones like adrenaline, which kicks in during emergency situations, block pain receptors.
This chemical response means that a person could be walking around for hours with a serious injury, such as internal bleeding, without knowing it. A doctor can assess your physical state and document their findings for a report that your attorney will use later.
Neglecting medical attention can put you at risk not only for your claim for a settlement but also for your claim.
Document What Happened
Evidence is an essential part of providing a comprehensive claim for damages. The scene of the accident won’t be around forever, which makes it essential to gather as much documentation as one can before the cleanup crew erases the evidence.
If you’re physically capable, take photos and even videos of all aspects of the scene. More documentation is always better than less; get a record of small details like tire marks, debris, and clothing damage.
You should also document your healing journey. Once you are in a safe place, take photos of all your visible injuries and set up a schedule to record the healing process every day or every few days.
This contextualizes the accident injuries for insurance representatives and other third parties who have seen countless accidents and are unfazed by hearing details alone.
Gather Eyewitnesses
After an accident, some aspects of the crash are easier to solidify than others. In instances where details don’t line up, or we otherwise enter murky water, an eyewitness can be there to emphasize your voice in the matter and help to prove that certain reports are either true or false.
Witnesses aren’t always necessary, but they’ll be the gold ticket to ensuring your claim moves past the investigation phase smoothly.
Try to get a recorded statement from any witnesses, and at the very least, make sure that they provide a statement to any police respondent. Also, gather their contact information so your attorney can reach out to them later.
Never Neglect Follow-up Care
Once you are discharged by your doctor, they’ll leave you with information about your injuries and help you understand what you can do to promote healing.
It is in your best interest to strictly follow their advice because neglecting follow-up care can give the impression that you are less concerned with your own recovery than expected. Rest, physical therapy, and time off of work are common ways a doctor will suggest prioritizing your recovery.
Following doctor’s orders will not only have you back on your feet faster but will also display the message that healing is your prime concern.
Hit By an Impaired Motorist? Contact a Lawrenceville Drunk Driving Law Firm Today
Driving is a privilege that many take for granted, putting the rest of our lives at risk when done irresponsibly. Drunk driving, in particular, is a common illegal habit, and many are harmed in the process.
If you have been injured by a drunk driver, you don’t have to fight for full damage recovery alone. The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm represents victims like you in the Lawrenceville area and can help you schedule a consultation now.
Ali Awad, the CEO Lawyer managing attorney, has built up a locally trusted firm in a matter of years, averaging over a 99.5% success rate. Schedule your free, no-obligation case review with an experienced Lawrenceville drunk driving accident attorney today when you call (770) 525-9098 or contact us online.
