DUI Accident and Steps to Take After Injuries, seen on FOX43

A night out on the town looks a lot different for many of us these days. Instead of drawing straws to see who will be the designated driver, people are turning to services like Uber and Lyft to take the danger out of driving after a few drinks. April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and, as someone dies every 48 seconds at the hands of a DUI driver, we are taking a look to see if these types of services could be helping.  

Here are the past five-year trends in Pennsylvania.  In 2013, drunk drivers caused just over 11,000 accidents, with nearly 8,000 injuries and 381 deaths. You can see those numbers trend downward over the years with about 700 fewer DUI accidents, 88 fewer fatalities and about 1,500 fewer injuries in 2017.

While it seems like we’re on a good path, there is still a lot of work to be done. Drivers and passengers hurt at the hands of a drunk driver often have catastrophic injuries that impact their work, their income, their families, and their day-to-day lives. When someone is injured because of a DUI driver, or any negligent driver for that matter, there are several steps that should be taken immediately.

• Contact a Personal Injury Attorney Right Away
• File a Police Report after a DUI Accident
• Don’t Underplay Injuries
• Take Pictures and Videos
• Gather Witness and Driver Information
• Do NOT Talk to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company

Why Should You Contact An Attorney Right Away?

When someone is injured in an accident, often times they aren’t thinking clearly. They can easily become overwhelmed with their injuries, the insurance companies and the thought of paying their bills while they are out of work. That is where we step in.  When you contact our experienced attorneys at Georgelis, Larsen & Sabatino Injury Law Firm, P.C., we will meet with you whenever and wherever it’s most convenient—the hospital room, your home or your office. We will quickly determine if you have a case, and, if you do, we will get to work right away. As DUI accident injury attorneys, we take the steps to make sure you are compensated fairly for your loss of past and future income, your injuries and your pain and suffering. Also, with drunk drivers, the possibility of punitive damages—i.e., a monetary sum to punish the offender—may exist.

Our attorneys will also handle the insurance companies who are doing their best to minimize the damage so they don’t have to pay out the amount of money you deserve. When you’re injured, we always offer free consultations, so there’s nothing to lose.

Why Should I File a Police Report after a DUI Accident?

A police report is an official record of what happened at the scene. Without a police report, it can be a he-said/she-said scenario. Don’t ever let the at-fault driver talk you out of calling the police. The moment you agree to just exchange numbers for insurance purposes, you’ve allowed that driver, and his insurance company, to get the upper hand.

Why Shouldn’t I Underplay My Injuries?

When someone’s involved in an accident, often times, adrenaline takes over and they don’t feel the pain. Sometimes injured drivers deny treatment on the scene because of this. Once that adrenaline rush subsides, the pain begins to kick in. Here’s where it gets tricky. If witnesses on the scene hear a driver say they are fine and they don’t have any injuries, this can be used against them down the road. It makes the job of a drunk driving accident injury attorney more difficult to argue their case.

So, best rule of thumb is to allow medics to examine you if you’re involved in an accident and to not downplay your injuries. Any documented medical attention can be critical in substantiating a claim for a bodily injury case.

Why Should I Take Pictures and Videos?

This isn’t always possible depending on the severity of injuries. However, if someone is able to get pictures and videos of the scene, it can be very helpful to a DUI accident case, or any bodily injury case, for that matter. Here are a few items worthy of getting a picture:

• Damage to the vehicles
• Injuries
• Road conditions
• Where the cars are positioned on the roadway
• Nearby signage

Why Do I Need to Gather Witness Information?

Immediately following an accident, it’s important to get contact information from as many witnesses as possible. Again, this may not be possible if the injuries are severe. However, if you or your passengers are able, this step could prove to be very helpful when filing a claim for a personal or bodily injury case. If liability is an issue, it always helps to have a witness who can back up your version of events.

Why Shouldn’t I Talk to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company?

Always remember, the other driver’s insurance company is not looking out for you! They are doing anything and everything they can to protect their insured (i.e., the at-fault driver) and minimize their damages (i.e., pay you as little as possible). The insurance company knows the right questions to ask to put the injured driver in a tough spot down the road. Any statements an injured driver makes could be used against them when they try to collect compensation. Let our DUI accident injury attorneys handle the insurance companies, so you can concentrate on getting better.

Call Georgelis First

Our attorneys at Georgelis, Larsen & Sabatino Injury Law Firm, P.C., P.C. have helped secure millions of dollars for drunk driving accident victims. If you or someone you know is injured, Call Georgelis First at 1-800-HURT-NOW.

We’re available 24/7 and will come to you for a free consultation. We never collect a fee unless we get money for you. Contact us today and we’ll handle everything from there!