What Happens After A Drunk Driving Accident En

What Happens After a Drunk Driving Accident?

Being involved in a car accident involving an impaired driver can be a very chilling experience. After the accident, you will be left to deal with the pain and suffering of being in an accident, but you also have the task of dealing with physicians and insurance companies. After being in a car accident involving an impaired driver, you may be wondering what to do. Unfortunately, impaired drivers routinely cause car accidents in South Florida and injured victims pay the price.

Regardless of the situation, when one is injured in an accident caused by an impaired driver, it is especially maddening because the accident could have been easily avoided if the driver would not have gotten behind the wheel. Impaired driving accidents intensify the types of injuries that may be sustained by passengers and other drivers. If you or a loved one was the victim of an impaired driving accident in South Florida, feel free to contact the personal injury attorneys at Suarez & Montero. There are detailed steps injured victims should take after an accident and this will help you figure out what to do after being hit by a drunk driver. Knowing what to do after being hit by an impaired driver will allow you or your loved one to protect their rights and ultimately obtain compensation necessary after these types of accidents.

Here’s a short guide on some of the most important things to do after a drunk driving accident:

Check for Injuries:

Once your car has come to a complete stop, stay calm and try your best to assess the situation. If anyone has been injured, call 911 immediately and ask for help. After any car accident, your first priority must be your safety and the safety of others in your vehicle or at the scene of the crash. Use good judgment to prevent the situation from getting worse. The crash scene may pose many dangers such as crashed vehicles being struck again by other vehicles traveling in the area of the accident. Indeed, secondary accidents are not uncommon and can often be more serious than the initial crash. For this reason, no person should ever stand between the two damaged vehicles because of the risk of being hit by a secondary crash. If your car cannot be safely moved out of the roadway, make it easier to see for oncoming traffic. For instance, turn on the hazard lights or raise the hood of the car to place the car in the line of sight for other drivers. Passengers in the vehicle who are not injured or those who can safely exit the vehicle should carefully move to the side of the road or to safety.

Contact the Police Immediately or As Soon As Possible:

It is imperative that the police be notified about the accident either immediately at the scene, or as soon as possible after the crash takes place. Do not let the other driver or anyone else at the scene to try and persuade you not to contact the police. There are several reasons why a call to the police should be made. To start, reporting of car accidents is mandated by Florida law. In the state of Florida, you must immediately contact law enforcement for accidents involving an injury, death, or property damage greater than $500. See Fla. Stat. § 316.065. The police officer will submit a report for these types of accidents. For accidents that do not require a police report (such as minor car damage), or where no police investigation is conducted, the driver must file a crash report within ten days. See Fla. Stat. § 316.066. The reports can be obtained at the DMV or online on the DMV website. Like any type of car accident, you should call the police if there’s significant damage and once it’s safe to do so. The officer will file an official report, which will be crucial evidence if you intend to pursue damages against the parties responsible.

Gather Evidence to Prove Your Claim:

Photographs and videotapes are absolutely invaluable in a personal injury case. Photographs are always the best way to show the impact of the car accident and provides evidence of the type of trauma likely experienced by someone involved in the accident. Photographs can also be introduced to establish the conditions then existing at the time of the accident, such as the weather, the layout of the intersection or roadway, the existence or location of signs or traffic control devices, any obstructions which affected visibility, or construction activities that may have contributed to the crash. Moreover, photographs may be important to an accident reconstruction expert called to testify about how or why the collision took place.

Moreover, it is crucial to take pictures of the damage to your vehicle after an accident in Florida. If you are able to take photographs of the other vehicle(s) involved, do so. Most smartphones have cameras built in. If it is safe to do so, take a picture of the accident scene prior to the vehicles being towed away. After you have sought medical care take pictures of your personal injuries resulting from the accident. Finally, you can also try to get photographs and videotapes made by other parties. Often times, responding police officers take photographs of the scene as part of their investigation. Also, many police cars are equipped with dashboard mounted video cameras which usually are left on while the officer is conducting his investigation.

Speak With a Miami Car Accident Attorney Today

Being involved in a serious car crash can be devastating for the victim, and even the victim’s family and friends for many reasons. For one, it can create the financial burden of having to pay for medical expenses, vehicle repairs and the like. It can be especially difficult when the person who is injured cannot work as this reduces the amount of income available to pay for these expenses. Escalating medical expenses not covered by insurance and lost wages due to hospitalization and injury adds another layer of stress to the equation. By hiring an attorney to help you obtain compensation for your damages, you can help ease the stress of dealing with the aftermath of a car accident including some of the financial difficulties that come along with an accident.

The Law Offices of Suarez & Montero Accident Attorneys is a personal injury law firm with locations in Miami and Broward. The accident attorneys at Suarez & Montero can help those of you who would like to pursue a personal injury accident claim. To discuss how we can assist you, call us or contact us online. Let the personal injury attorneys at Suarez & Montero review the circumstances of your case and discuss your legal options. Our attorneys are ready to provide proven legal representation in pursuing your claim and stand ready to protect your rights. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation!

We serve clients throughout Florida including those in the following areas:

Miami-Dade: Aventura, Coral Gables, Doral, Fontainebleau, Hialeah, Homestead, Kendall, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Lakes, North Miami, Tamiami, and Westchester.

Broward: Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and Weston; and Palm Beach County including Boca Raton, Lake Worth, and West Palm Beach.