11 Steps to Take If You Are Injured in a Drunk Driving Accident

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11 Steps to Take If You Are Injured in a Drunk Driving Accident

CONTACT US FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

CONTACT US FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

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11 Steps to Take If You Are Injured in a Drunk Driving Accident

As we prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day, we have to take a moment to share about a serious topic. Organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) have done a great job in alerting the public about the dangers of drunk driving. Even still, Drunk Driving cases continue to be a common type of car accident in the Philadelphia area despite changes to laws and awareness.

This blog post is here to help if you find yourself injured in a car accident with a suspected Drunk Driver. We sincerely hope you never need this advice, but in the event you do, we’re here to help.

The first step is to call the police. You should do this even if you think the other driver has left the scene. The police will document the accident and look for any evidence of alcohol or drug use.

The second step is to seek medical attention, even if you don’t think you’re injured. Many injuries, especially internal ones, may not be immediately apparent.

The third step is to collect evidence. This includes taking photos of the accident scene, getting contact information for witnesses, and saving any relevant documents.

If you’ve been injured by a Drunk Driver…

The fourth step is to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer. An attorney can help you navigate the legal process and ensure that your rights are protected.

The fifth step is to file a claim with your insurance company. Your insurance company will likely require you to fill out a lot of paperwork and may even ask you to give a recorded statement.

The sixth step is to negotiate with the insurance company. The insurance adjuster may try to lowball you or deny your claim entirely. An experienced car accident attorney can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.

The seventh step is to file a lawsuit. If the insurance company refuses to give you a fair settlement, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit.

The eighth step is to go to trial. A trial can be long and complex, but an experienced attorney can help you prepare and present your case in the best possible light.

The ninth step is to collect your judgment or settlement. If you win your case, the insurance company will be required to pay you the amount of money that was awarded by the jury or agreed upon in a settlement.

The tenth step is to file an appeal. If you lose your case, you may have the right to file an appeal.

The eleventh and final step is to get help from an experienced car accident attorney. Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. An experienced attorney can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.

No one ever expects to be involved in a car accident, let alone a drunk driving accident. But if it does happen, it’s important to know what steps to take. We hope this blog post has been helpful. If you or someone you know has been injured in a drunk driving accident, please contact our office for a free consultation.

Happy Mother’s Day!

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Your Questions Answered

We understand when the injury occurs, you are scared and need immediate help. Here are the answers to some of the questions we hope are helpful to you.
If you come to us, we have all the answers for when you are injured in any type of accident.

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Call the police and make sure an ambulance is sent as soon as possible. Make sure everyone involved in the accident is conscious and responsive. Stay at the scene even if the accident isn’t serious, the police should be called regardless and a police report should be filed. It is important when speaking to the police that you stick to the facts, do not speculate, and most importantly do not admit any fault. Make sure you take as many pictures as you can with your cell phone. Also, we suggest taking a picture of the other person’s license plate, their drivers license, and insurance information. The pictures should document any damage that is caused by both vehicles.  Seek medical attention as soon as possible if injured, even if you do not feel any pain, you may be in a state of shock and could experience medical issues later on.

If you are experiencing pain, injury, or financial damages as a result of someone else’s negligence. You may have a personal injury case. If the other driver was at fault or failed to follow the legal rules of the road – our car accident attorneys may be able to prove that the other party is liable for those damages. For example, if you were rear-ended in a car accident, typically the other driver is responsible for that accident and the insurance company could be liable for any damages.

Within the first few days, you will receive communications from both your insurance company and the other driver’s insurance company. You may be contacted by your health insurance company, doctors, and even attorneys. The other driver’s insurance company may request that you sign medical authorizations so they can retrieve your medical records. Before you speak to any of these people or sign any documents, it is important that you seek legal counsel.

You may have a difficult time paying for your medical expenses, even if you have health insurance. Make sure to bill any treatment as you normally would through your healthcare provider. Additionally, you may have medical payment coverage under your car insurance plan. This could be used to cover your co-pays and other medical expenses that your health insurance company may not cover initially.

This is a difficult question to answer because it depends on many factors. If we are successful in proving that the other party is liable for your injuries and damages, you could be compensated for medical bills and any other hospital costs, lost wages, costs of rehabilitation and physical therapy, disability or disfigurement, pain and suffering, wrongful death, including loss of financial support and any other out of pocket expense that was related to your accident.

Depending on the severity of your injuries and the length of time you need to heal from your injuries will determine the length of your claim. We also have to factor in the willingness of the other party to settle as they make their initial offer. If unreasonable offers are made, your claim may proceed to trial, which will increase the length of your claim.

At Kats, Jamison & Associates all personal injury accident cases are handled on a contingency-fee-basis. This means that we will never charge you upfront for any cost and we will advance all costs and expenses. You will not have to reimburse our Firm for any costs unless we are successful. You will pay absolutely nothing for lawyers’ fees unless we win a monetary sum in your case.

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