It’s hard to ignore the fatalities caused by drunk driving.
A report by the CDC indicates that drunk driving alone accounts for more than 28% of all automotive accidents.
In LA alone, the DUI arrests are becoming more prevalent and on average, 36,000 DUI arrests are made annually in this region, translating to 100 arrests daily.
And in the article below, we shall look at the four things that you should do in case you a victim of an alcohol-impaired deriving.
Stop, Remain Clam, and Keep yourself from Danger
The first thing to do if you’ve been involved in an accident is to remain is to stop your vehicle and remain as calm as possible.
In the immediate aftermath, it’s always a good idea to prioritize your safety and that of the others in your vehicle.
Ideally, you are not supposed to leave the accident spot until police arrive, but if staying on the accident spots poses a more significant threat, you are welcome to leave.
Here, you need to use judgment to avert more accidents. For instance, if you are on a busy highway, you need to determine whether your car risks getting rammed by other unsuspecting vehicles.
Indeed secondary collisions are common and usually more fatal. So, none of the parties should be standing in between the vehicles at the accident scene.
Call the Police
After securing your safety and that of the others, the next step is to call the police.
Besides freeing up traffic and securing the crash scene, police will help you obtain a quick response from the medical personnel and even arrange the towing services.
Secondly, the officers will help to contain the otherwise intoxicated individuals who might be acting in a threatening or belligerent way.
Police are also responsible for investigating the cause of the accident and are likely to conduct the intoxication tests.
Further, they may take photographs, videos, and even skid marks of the entire scene.
While at it, it’s always a good idea to have a lawyer or one of the representatives on the crash scene.
Do Not Make Any Statement or Apologies at the Scene
At the accident scene, you should render aid to the drunk driver or any other occupants in their car. Otherwise, any interaction with the other drivers should be limited.
Avoid any arguments or even confronting the other driver.
Keep cool, and say or do nothing.
While at it, you can take a photo of the accident scene, including the information about the driver, his vehicle registration, and insurance.
More importantly, you mustn’t be apologetic because it’s such statements that are often construed against you in a court of law.
Understandably, people want to say sorry in the event of an accident, but you should desist from making any statement that could incriminate you.
Contact An Attorney
It’s always recommended to have a reputable accident lawyer in Los Angeles for drunk driving victims by your side during the entire process.
Accident lawyers for drunk driving victims, for instance, will help to smoothen the process.
This is particularly true if you are planning to seek compensation for the damages or even injuries.
See, nothing is more disturbing than having to file an insurance claim when you’re bedridden or nursing wounds.
So, it’s always best to seek the services of an attorney.
An attorney will take up to the task of contacting your insurance company. Remember that some of the companies require their policyholder to make a settlement claim within a certain period, failure to which the claim is voided.
Also, the DUI will help in gathering evidence that proves the accident was as a result of intoxication.
Finally, an attorney is instrumental in ensuring that you get compensated for the right amount.
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