If you've been hurt in an accident caused by someone that was driving while intoxicated, you have a long road ahead of you. Here, you'll find a little information to help you know what to do in this instance.
Contact a Lawyer
There are legal repercussions for the driver that was driving while intoxicated, but there are also financial burdens they will carry as well. You will need a lawyer to help you go after all of the money that driver owes for your medical bills, replacing your vehicle and all of the pain and suffering that you've gone through. This is not something that you'll be able to do on your own – you must know the system for the best results.
Insurance Woes
Many times, a driver who is irresponsible enough to drive while intoxicated doesn't have insurance, or the insurance that they do have is so minimal that it barely puts a dent in your expenses. Your insurance will do their part, but it really is the responsibility of the other driver to make you financially whole again – this will take some serious negotiations that are likely beyond your scope of expertise – the lawyer will help.
Additional Parties Responsible
Some states have put laws in place to hold the establishment that served the intoxicated driver responsible for any accidents that may occur after they leave. It is illegal for establishments to serve anyone who appears to be intoxicated. This means, if the driver that caused your accident was obviously drunk when he or she was served the last drink at the bar or restaurant, the owner of that business can be held financially and legally responsible for their neglect in continuing to serve them before they drove.
Witness Identification
Oftentimes, when there's an accident, people stop to help – or just to look at check out the scene. These are your witnesses. Unfortunately, some witnesses don't stick around long enough to give their statements to the police – this means that they'll have to be identified and tracked down. This can be difficult without having the know-how to do it. If you have an attorney, the firm will likely have investigators that do all of this leg-work for you.
You don't have to pay for someone else's bad decision – at least financially. With the help of a good attorney, you'll be on your way to recouping some of the monies that you've lost due to this incident. Contact a firm, like McMenamin & McMenamin, PS, for more help.
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