Being involved in a car accident with a drunk driver is never a favourable time. It’s stressful, scary, dangerous, and it can mark the beginning of a lengthy process with the law, insurance companies, and police. Of course, it’s not every day this happens to someone, so it can be hard to know what to do.
With this in mind, today we’re going to share with you our eight-step guide to what do as soon as you’re involved in a drunk driver accident, all so you can handle it properly and get everything sorted out as quickly as possible.
Step 1
Contact the police. The absolute first thing you must do is get in contact with the police and get them to the scene. Of course, if you’re dealing with a drunk driver, the chances are they’re not going to want this to happen, but you must preserve and get them to come. They can carry out drunk driving tests and create a statement to help fight your case.
Step 2
Get contact information. Only approach the drunk driver if it’s safe to do so. Use your better judgement. The idea is to get their contact information so you can contact their insurance company, but if they are violent, write down their license plate and get the police to get the information for you.
Step 3
Explain to the police. When the police arrive on the scene, tell them you think the driver is drunk. Then, step back and let the police do their job. There may be both drugs and alcohol involved, so if anything happens while the police are on their way, such as chucking drugs into the roadside, you need to report this.
Step 4
Take photos. The more photographic evidence you have, the better you’ll be able to describe and fight your case. Take pictures of any damage on both your vehicle and the drunk driver, and make sure you gather as much evidence of what’s happened as possible.
Step 5
Get a police statement. Once the police have done their job, and the scene is clear to leave, get a statement. The police may give you a written statement, or a phone number to call to get one at a later date. Either way, get something from the police, so you know what’s going on.
Step 6
Contact your insurance company. As soon as possible, contact your insurance company and let them know what’s happened. Log your claim and hand over the other driver’s details as well as any evidence and police statements you have. The quicker you can do this, the faster the insurance company will be able to handle your claim.
Step 7
Wait. Now the claim is in the hands of the car accident lawyer, and they should be in touch to let you know what’s happening. If you don’t hear from them within two weeks, then you can get in touch and chase up what’s going on.
Step 8
Finish the claim. When you hear from the insurance company, you should be able to claim and get any damages to your vehicle covered, or you’ll hear about the next stage. You may need to give statements or give a report in court, but your insurance company will guide you through the process until it’s completed and closed.
Summary
As you can see, getting involved in a car accident with a drunk driver doesn’t have to be a complicated or overwhelming experience. Just follow these steps, and you’ll be through and out the other side before you know it!
