Alcohol is a substance that impairs thinking, reasoning, and muscle coordination. All of which are essential for operating a vehicle safely. The more alcohol a person or driver consumes, the higher these levels of impairment become, and the more likely a drunk driving accident is to occur when behind the wheel. Witnessing or being the victim of a drunk driving accident can be terrifying. DUI accidents are very different from typical auto accidents. DUI accidents are usually far more severe than non-DUI accidents because, in a DUI accident, we don’t see the last-second evasive moves traditionally seen in a non-DUI accident. Drunk drivers often travel at excessive speeds well above the average threshold of standard speeding. This lethal combination of excessive speed and lack of evasive maneuvers can lead to horrible results, catastrophic injuries, and, in some cases, wrongful death. Many victims of drunk driving accidents following the collision are often left seriously hurt, stunned, and confused. To help assist those who may fall victim to a drunk driving accident, we have assembled a short guide to assist you if ever facing this unfortunate situation and be in the best position possible to recover both physically and financially.
Drunk Driving Accident Statistics
According to the NHTSA,
- Every day, about 32 people in the United States die in drunk-driving accidents, around one person every 45 minutes.
- In 2020, 11,654 people died from drunk driving, a 14% upsurge from 2019.
- About 30% of all crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers with BACs of .08 or above.
Drunk Driving Accident Response Guide
After being involved in an accident caused by a drunk driver, it’s essential to follow these five steps.
- Call 911. If you’re the victim of a drunk driving accident, the very first step you should take is to call 911 emergency response services to dispatch to the crash location. By calling 911, the police and emergency medical professionals will arrive at the crash location to assist those involved.
- Get Medical Attention. This should be the priority if you or others have suffered injuries from the accident. Even if your injuries are not severe enough to require ambulance transport, you should still visit a hospital or urgent care facility to have medical professionals document and assess your injuries.
- Gather as much evidence about the accident as possible. Try to get as much information as possible about the accident. Collect information about the events leading up to the accident, like the direction you were headed, the speed you were traveling, traffic signs, and indications. Additionally, it’s essential to document the defendant’s name, insurance information, license plate number, and the names of any witnesses. Gathering these pieces of evidence is critical because a police report will not always document this evidence. Everybody assumes that police officers will collect the names of witnesses and other necessary evidence, which doesn’t always happen. You’ll want to get photographs of the scene where the cars ended after the collision, including the street layout. If you notice businesses nearby where the crash occurred that might have video cameras, go inside and request video footage of their surveillance system. This video footage can sometimes be helpful, especially when it’s a question of who ran a red light. Video evidence can be critical for proving who was at fault.
- Speak With a Qualified Car Accident Attorney. After taking care of your immediate medical concerns and gathering the necessary evidence, you should contact a qualified car accident attorney with experience handling drunk driving cases to take your claim against the drunk driver. It is always best to hire a local, experienced car accident attorney familiar with the roadways where the drunk driving accident occurred. At Eason and Tambornini, our expert Sacramento car accident attorneys have dealt with countless DUI accident cases in Sacramento and Northern California. Our attorneys have an impeccable track record of supporting drunk driving accident victims throughout their legal journey to receive all they are entitled to and bring justice to the drunk drivers who cause pain and suffering.
- Follow Your Attorneys Advice. Once you have hired an expert car accident attorney. Provide your attorney with all the evidence you collected from the collision. Do not speak or provide statements to the drunk driver’s auto insurance providers or any other party. Be prepared to follow all their instructions and advice. Once our expert car accident attorneys at Eason and Tambornini begin representing you regarding the drunk driving incident, all further communications, including questions and concerns, will be made through us. This constant cooperation between our attorneys and clients should help alleviate your worries about negotiating with the drunk driver’s insurance company. You can trust that our expert attorneys will be with you through every step of the legal process.
If you follow this guide, contact an experienced car accident attorney like our experts at Eason and Tambornini, A Law Corporation. We can assume that your case may be in the best position to recover physically and financially from this unfortunate ordeal.
If you or a loved one are a victim of a drunk driving accident and have suffered severe personal injuries, our car accident attorneys are here to help. At Eason and Tambornini, A Law Corporation, our expert attorneys and staff are here to support you and guide you through the complex legal processes ahead. We offer completely FREE and confidential, no-obligation consultations for our clients. The costs of our representation are zero if we do not win your case.
To speak with our experts and begin your journey to recovery and compensation, call 916-438-1819 or visit our office in Downtown Sacramento at 1234 H St. Sacramento, CA, 95814.
