Steps You Need to Take if You’ve Been Hit by Drunk Driver

Being in any kind of accident can be terrifying, to say the least. It is especially frustrating to be involved in an accident caused by an irresponsible driver who was driving under the influence. If you ever get hit by a drunk driver, the shock of the situation can keep you from taking the proper steps to ensure that you get your dues after being put through such a horrible ordeal. Knowing exactly what you need to do can make a big difference in how the situation unfolds. Here’s what you need to do to get the compensation you rightfully deserve in such a situation.

1- Call the Authorities

The first thing you need to do if you are in a vehicle accident is to call the responsible authorities. This ensures that anyone who is injured because of the accident can get immediate medical attention. Not to mention that having the authorities at the scene of the accident ensures that an official report of the accident is written and documented by the police.

2- Get the Driver’s Information

After making sure that the authorities are on the way, you can begin gathering the driver’s information. It is imperative to do so because you will need to contact your insurance company to report the damage you and your vehicle have sustained. This way they can start their own investigation and compensate you accordingly.

3- Note Down Accident Details

When the police arrive, they will want to know exactly how the accident went down. You need to be able to answer their questions, and if you are unsure of how you got hit by the drunk driver, you can ask eyewitnesses to help clarify what happened during the accident so that you can provide all the relevant details to the police.

4- Seek Medical Attention

You should get checked by a medical professional as soon as possible after the accident to ensure that you are not seriously injured. If you are injured in any way, then you need to receive medical treatment. Make sure that your doctor notes down how severe the injuries you sustained are and that they were the result of a vehicle accident. This will act as evidence that the injuries you are getting treated for are actually from the accident and not from another situation.

5- Contact a Lawyer

If you feel lost and are unable to go through the proper legal procedures after this experience, then you can easily contact an accident lawyer to help you through the different steps. This is especially important if the accident took place in Oklahoma City or any other city where drunk driving accidents are common. An article published on Cain Law Office detailing the havoc that a drunk driver could wreak, especially if driving a commercial truck, shows that having a lawyer on your side can be quite helpful. Hiring a lawyer ensures that you can focus on recovering from the mental and physical trauma of the accident while they handle all the legal intricacies on your behalf.

6- Keep Record of Relevant Documents

Keeping a record of all the different documents after an accident is important if you want to get proper compensation for what you went through. Being injured in an accident does not just mean racking up medical bills. It also means missing work and not being able to pay expenses and affording necessities. Keeping track of all the expenses you needed to pay due to being in an accident is going to give your lawyer an easier time setting a figure for your compensation.

Following these steps is going to ensure that you have all the right documents and help you need to fully recover without having to bear the financial consequences of missing work or falling behind on your bills. These steps may seem like a piece of cake to follow, but you need to keep in mind that, when in shock, it is difficult to remember what to do.  So always have the phone numbers of relevant authorities and an accident lawyer on hand to make sure you can get help when needed.