If you or a loved one were in a motor vehicle accident that you believe was caused by a drunk driver, there are certain steps that you should always take.
Those steps include the following:
- Call a police officer to the scene –When you dial 9-1-1 after a motor vehicle accident, a police officer and an ambulance will be dispatched to the scene. If you suspect that the at-fault driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, ask the police officer to prepare a formal report which states the cause of the accident—and which identifies who was at fault for the accident. A trained police officer will try to determine if the other driver was intoxicated at the time the accident occurred.
- Gather information – If you physically can do so after the accident, you should take down as much information as possible about the other driver, as well as any witnesses who may have come to the accident scene. Regarding witnesses, obtain their names and contact information, if possible, if your lawyer needs to contact them.
- Take pictures –In many cases, drunk drivers are obviously impaired. They may have slurred speech or bloodshot eyes, for example. Smartphones can help capture those symptoms of intoxication. Moreover, you should observe whether the other driver uses eye drops (in an attempt to disguise visibly bloodshot eyes) or tries to dispose of alcohol cans or bottles.
- Obtain medical treatment –If you believe that you were injured in the motor vehicle accident, you should seek follow-up medical treatment and care as soon as you can—preferably right after the accident. Your best bet is usually to travel in an ambulance directly to a hospital emergency room, to have a healthcare provider examine you. In many cases, it can be difficult to tell if you were injured in a car accident, since symptoms do not always develop right away. An emergency room doctor or nurse will diagnose you and, if you are injured, provide you with the treatment you need.
- Speak with our experienced Atlanta drunk driving attorneys –An experienced attorney can take care of all of the legal aspects of your claim, allowing you to focus your time and energy on getting better and recovering from your injuries. A lawyer can also investigate your accident and obtain copies of all of your treatment records and bills. Furthermore, a lawyer will try to find out if the drunk driver who caused your accident was a repeat offender who caused one or more previous traffic accidents. A knowledgeable Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyer will do everything possible to get you compensated to the greatest extent.
