Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of road accidents in Florida and the US. According to statistics, drunk driving is responsible for 25% of the deaths caused by road accidents in Florida. If you are hit by a drunk driver, then he or she not only faces criminal punishments such as jail or fines but maybe also held liable for monetary and non-monetary damages caused due to their impaired driving. Often, a victim of a drunk driving accident doesn’t know what to do after being hit by an impaired driver. Here are some tips on how you should respond after being hit by a drunk driver in Tampa or in Florida.
Call the Cops
You should immediately call the police after being involved in a drunk driving accident. In case your phone is damaged, or you are unable to make the call due to injuries, then ask any witness or bystander to call the police on your behalf.
The police will investigate and you should insist (although they should do so by default) that the responding officers document every detail about the accident. This can help you later on in your lawsuit or for getting compensation from the insurance company.
Cooperate with Law Enforcement Officials
Police officers investigating the crash will inquire about the circumstances surrounding the accident. You must fully cooperate with law enforcement officials and tell them all the facts which you know. Just don’t try to exaggerate things and tell them how it really happened.
If the police will ask if you are hurt, then don’t say no even if you are not sure about your injuries as this may, later on, hinder your claims in the court.
Collect evidence
Try to collect as much evidence about the crash as possible. You will ideally get the contact details of another driver along with his/her car and driving license number, get photos of the crash scene, contact details of the witnesses, and also, take pictures of your injuries. Many lawsuits are unsuccessful due to a lack of evidence, and by collecting all the evidence about the crash, you can significantly increase your chances of getting compensation.
Seek Medical Attention
It’s essential to seek medical attention immediately after the crash, even if you feel that you are not injured. Often a person injured in a drunk driving accident may not feel the pain or notice the injuries caused for several hours or even days and weeks after the crash. So, it’s always a good idea to seek medical attention after the crash, and it will also bolster your claims for damages.
When a victim fails to seek medical attention immediately after an accident, the defense could argue that he or she was not injured due to the accident and any sustained injuries may have been caused by something else.
Contact an experienced DUI attorney
Drunk driving cases are often complex, as the driver responsible for the crash and his or her insurance company may use every trick to avoid responsibility for the accident. This is because, it would make them liable for the injuries you suffered and the many financial losses associated with those injuries.
It’s a good idea to contact an experienced DUI attorney immediately after the accident as you’ll need an experienced drunk driving attorney to sue the driver responsible for the crash.
In Conclusion
If you have been hit by a drunk driver in Tampa, then feel free to contact SP Justice. Our lawyers have helped hundreds of victims of drunk driving in the past, and we’d be glad to assist you. You can book a free consultation by calling (727) 498-8771.