Most car accident attorneys in Macon have learned that the majority of car accidents are avoidable, but they are usually due to simple carelessness. However, making the decision to drive while drunk is one of the most irresponsible things to do. Drunk driving is extremely dangerous, but it is also easy to prevent. That’s why Georgia’s laws are so harsh on intoxicated drivers. If a drunk driver hits your vehicle and injures you, the police and court system will take care of the criminal charges. However, you have to follow certain steps to ensure the success of your personal injury claim. In this blog post, our Georgia car accident attorneys will look at some of the things you need to do after you get struck by a drunk driver.
Calmly Assess the Situation
Car accidents are often traumatic, but you need to try to stay calm. The first thing you need to do is check on everyone in your vehicle and call the ambulance if anyone appears seriously injured. Even though you may be angry about what happened, don’t get out of your vehicle to confront the other driver. Instead, call 911 and report the crash. If you determine that you don’t need an ambulance, you should go to the doctor immediately after leaving the scene. Your injuries may not appear serious and you may even feel fine it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Move Your Vehicle Out of The Roadway If You Can Do So Safely
You don’t need to leave your vehicle in the position in which it came to stop. In fact, Georgia’s laws require you to move it to the side of the road if you can do so safely. If someone involved in the accident is seriously injured or dead or the vehicle is badly damaged, you shouldn’t attempt to move. If you can’t move your vehicle but you can walk, make sure you stand out of harm’s way.
Call the Police
You may not know immediately that the driver is drunk and therefore, breaking the law. However, you should always call the police after a car accident involving injuries. You’ll want to have the crash investigated and documented so there’s a third-party opinion on what happened. This will help to support your insurance claim or lawsuit later.
The driver who hit you may try to convince you not to call the police since they know they’ll likely face criminal charges. Don’t accept their offer to settle the matter without getting law enforcement involved. They need to be held responsible for their actions and you need to go through the correct channels if you want to ensure you’ll get full compensation. You won’t immediately know the full extent of your losses so you shouldn’t accept any settlement offer. In any case, the law requires you to report the accident.
Exchange Information with the Other Driver and Gather Evidence
If a drunk driver struck you, you’ll definitely want to get as much information as you can about them. The law enforcement officers who arrive on the scene will do their own investigations but you can do simple things until they get there. Ask the other driver for their name, address, and vehicle registration number and make a note of the information.
If there were any witnesses to the crash, ask them for their contact details since your Macon car accident lawyer may want to talk to them later. Some witnesses may not stick around until the police arrive so you should try to get the information as soon as possible. You should also take photos of the scene and the damage to the vehicles involved.
Don’t Apologize or Admit Responsibility
The other driver may appear so distressed that begin to feel sorry for them. You may start to think you did something wrong and contributed to the accident. Even if this were the case, don’t say sorry or admit that you had a role to play. This could hurt your ability to get compensation. When you talk to the police, answer their questions but don’t make any guesses about what happened. Your attorney will advise you further on how to proceed in a way that protects your rights.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorneys in Macon
After you seek medical attention, your next step should be to contact a lawyer. You shouldn’t have to pay your medical bills or lose out on thousands of dollars in wages if the accident was not your fault. You’ll need car accident attorneys in Macon to fight on your behalf.
Call Calvin Smith Law Today!
Schedule a free consultation with one of our car accident attorneys in Macon today. The sooner we get started on your case, the better it will be for you. Let us help you recover the compensation you deserve.
