Should I contact a lawyer if I‘m hit by a drunk driver? Yes, you should absolutely contact a lawyer if you’re hit by a drunk driver. You could have physical injuries, emotional suffering, or property damage, all of which you deserve compensation for.
A Lansing car accident lawyer can educate you on your rights and work to get you the best possible outcome.
An Attorney Can Protect Your Rights After a Drunk Driving Accident
Being hit by someone who is intoxicated can be jarring, but always contact a lawyer if you’re hit by a drunk driver as quickly as possible. This may help to protect your rights and make sure evidence is collected correctly and that you are not taken advantage of by insurance companies.
After an accident with a drunk driver, the most important step is ensuring that everyone is safe. Call 911 as soon as possible to get police and medical assistance to the scene quickly. Even if injuries seem minor, it is vital that a qualified medical professional properly examine everyone involved.
Documentation is also key after an accident. Take pictures and videos of the scene, get witness contact information, write down or record any key pieces of information that you do not want to forget, and do not speak to the insurance company before talking with a lawyer.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
An Experienced Lawyer Can Handle Insurance Negotiations for You
If you have been hit by a drunk driver, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Speaking to an insurance company without representation can mean the difference between a fair settlement offer and having to go to court to fight for compensation.
A skilled attorney knows how to stand up to insurance companies. They know the types of evidence needed and how to build your case to lead to a fair settlement offer. If the insurance company is unwilling to budge, an attorney understands how to navigate the legal system to win your case in court.
Dealing with insurance companies can be stressful. Between the lowball offers and blame shifting, it is likely the last thing you want to deal with after an accident.
Your Lansing personal injury lawyer will create a line of defense between you and the insurance company, handling negotiations while you take time to recover.
Contacting a Lawyer After Being Hit by a Drunk Driver Can Strengthen Your Case
An attorney’s job is to understand the law and fight on your behalf to ensure it is being upheld. After an accident with an intoxicated driver, they have several steps they take to build your case. These steps can include:
- Gathering police reports
- Speaking to witnesses
- Acquiring medical reports
- Bringing in their own experts to evaluate the accident, such as accident reconstruction experts and other expert witnesses
Lawyers use these pieces of evidence to strengthen your case so that you may receive the highest possible payout for your injuries. This information can help prove the recklessness of the other driver and show why you deserve monetary compensation for their negligence.
We understand that you may be going through a difficult situation and we are ready to help however we can.
There is a Difference Between a Civil Claim and a Criminal DUI Prosecution
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 34 people in the US die every day from drunk driving crashes. Due to the dangers of drunk driving, it is a criminal offense, but to receive compensation, you must file your own, separate lawsuit.
In a criminal DUI case, the government is generally the party that files the case. Penalties can include jail time, license suspension, fines, or mandatory treatment. You may be called as a witness, but you are not considered a party to the case, so you likely wouldn’t receive damages.
In a civil case, you or your attorney is the one who file the case directly against the at-fault driver or other responsible parties. You and your lawyer would present evidence to the court as to how the driver’s intoxication caused your injuries. This is the type of case in which you can recover damages.
You will always work directly with your attorney throughout your case.
A Lawyer Can Help You Recover the Maximum Damages Allowed
Contacting a lawyer after an accident with a drunk driver can mean the difference between a small payout, maybe enough to cover the damage to your car, and a fair payout that accounts for all of your injuries. You may be entitled to compensation for items such as:
- Medical bills related to the accident
- Future treatments, such as physical therapy, pain management, or other therapies, are needed as a result of the accident
- Property damage
- Loss of wages due to being unable to work
- Loss of earning potential if your injuries will affect you long-term, therefore affecting your career
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
- If someone passes away from their injuries, families can often collect wrongful death settlements
Understanding how these types of damages work is another reason you should contact a lawyer if you are hit by a drunk driver. Although money cannot take away the pain after an accident, you deserve to be compensated for what you have had to endure.
An Attorney Can Help Alleviate Your Stress After An Accident With a Drunk Driver
Being hit by a drunk driver can turn your life upside down. Not only are you dealing with the physical and emotional trauma of the accident, but you could now be facing financial worry, loss of transportation, and, with that, a feeling of lost independence. Having an attorney can help alleviate some of that stress.
Deadlines are strict within our legal system. If you miss a filing deadline and go past the statute of limitations for which you can file a claim, which is three years after the accident in Michigan (MCL Sec. 600.5805), you may no longer be able to file a claim. You should have a lawyer after being hit by a drunk driver, as this system can be complex.
Any car accident can be stressful, and being hit by a drunk driver can be especially traumatic. Having a skilled lawyer on your side can help to reduce that stress, and they will walk you through what to do if a drunk driver hits you.
We Are Here to Fight For You
At White Law PLLC, we know what it takes to win drunk driving accident cases. Beyond winning cases, we fight for justice for our clients. If a drunk driver has injured you, you deserve justice. Call us today for a free consultation.
We are available 24/7 to evaluate your case.
We’re Experienced. We Care.
We Exceed Client Expectations.
