What Steps To Take After Being Hit By A Drunk Driver in Delaware
If you are lucky enough to live through a drunk driving collision, you might suffer grave injuries that can put your life on hold.
In most drunk driving collisions, the drunk driver is arrested and charged with a DUI. However, in Delaware, you can also file a civil lawsuit against the negligent driver that injured you so that you can seek compensation for your medical costs. When dealing with the criminal case, you should keep a number of things in mind. Here are some important steps to take after this kind of accident occurs.
DUI Victim Checklist
The aftermath of a car accident can be daunting. If you are seriously injured, you may not be able to move around easily or perform everyday tasks. In many DUI cases, police get the information that you’ll need for your case. After a drunk driving accident, perform the following tasks:
Call the Police
Drunk driving is an extremely serious criminal offense in Delaware, and drivers who are charged with DUIs will often lose their licenses. In addition, police help DUI victims by arresting drunk drivers and testing the driver’s BAC (blood alcohol concentration). Police can also testify about the driver’s careless driving, slurred speech, loss of balance, bloodshot eye color, the odor of alcohol, and other signs of intoxication. This, as well as a DUI conviction, can help you prove your civil case.
Obtain Medical Care
If you have been hurt severely, you will have no choice but to go to the hospital for treatment. Always have a doctor examine you. You may have incurred serious injuries that are not obvious while you are full of adrenaline after an accident. Whiplash, bruising, internal bleeding, and traumatic brain injuries can all occur later, but doctors may be able to treat them right away. Additionally, evidence of your injuries will help you prove your case.
Get Information
If you were hurt in a car accident, you will need to exchange information with the other drivers that were involved. As the victim, you will need the drunk driver’s information to go to court or file an insurance claim. This means:
- The other driver’s contact information.
- The make, model, license plate number, damage to the cars involved.
- The accident location (street or highway names).
- The police contact information (department names, badge numbers).
- The driver’s drunkenness (anything you can see like slurred speech, any admissions he/she makes).
- Where the driver was headed to.
An injury lawsuit is often based on the pain and suffering you receive from your injuries. This means showing how the injury has affected you, the toll it has taken on your life, and your day-to-day discomfort. Keep a record of your recovery to help prove what you are going through.
Talk to a Delaware Accident Attorney
Before filing with insurance or trying to go to court, take your case to an attorney. Our lawyers can help guide you through the filing process, and help you seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
I Was Hit By A Drunk Driver
You can sue the drunk driver who struck you because any time you are hurt by another person’s negligence, you can pursue a civil action for harm. In the suit, you must prove that the other party who hurt you failed to use care and that failure caused your injuries. Breaking the law by driving drunk is known as clear negligence.
Delaware DUI Victim Lawyers
If you were hurt in a drunk driving accident, or you lost a loved one due to a drunk driver, contact the Delaware personal injury lawyers at Edelstein Martin & Nelson. Our attorneys take care of lawsuits for serious and traumatic injury in DUI cases, and we can help you.
What should you do if you’ve been hurt by a person who was driving under the influence? If you’re hurt in an accident immediately report it to the police, seek medical attention, and get contact information. Then contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney at Edelstein Martin & Nelson. It is very important to talk to an injury lawyer as soon as possible. Together, you can get the fair and just recompense you deserve. Contact us today!