Despite decades of aggressive advertising campaigns and strict regulations, drunk driving still occurs on a daily basis all over the country. According to NHTSA estimates, 32 people in the United States die every day in drunk driving crashes; that works out to one person every 45 minutes, on average. To make matters worse, these numbers are increasing; in 2020, despite less overall driving, 11,654 people died in drunk driving-related vehicular crashes, marking a 14 percent increase from 2019.
What should you do if you’re hit by a drunk driver?
Take a Deep Breath
Before you do anything else, take a deep breath and try to calm your mind. Car accidents are highly shocking, traumatic events that will inevitably spike your adrenaline and fill you with emotion. However, it’s important to avoid allowing these emotions to control you; reckless actions like attacking the other driver or immediately getting out of the vehicle could put you in more danger and open you up to liability issues in the future. Instead, think calmly and rationally about your decisions.
Get to Safety
As soon as possible, get yourself and others to safety. If your car is still drivable, drive it to the side of the road. Otherwise, it may be in your best interest to either stay in the vehicle or exit the vehicle and get off the road – depending on the location of your crash.
This is also important to increase safety for other drivers. If your car is in the middle of the road, it could lead to a chain reaction of other crashes, putting other people in unnecessary danger.
Start Contacting People
Once you and the other people involved in the collision are safe, immediately start contacting people.
Gather Evidence
Assuming you’re able to physically move, gather evidence while at the scene. The more evidence you have, the more likely you’ll be to get full compensation for this accident.
Seek Medical Attention
Even if you don’t feel like you need it, it’s important to seek medical attention. Doctors and nurses will be able to determine whether there’s any significant damage to your body. It’s also important to attend follow-up appointments and comply with all medical advice you receive; otherwise, you may win less compensation when it comes time to negotiate with insurance companies.
While you’re at it, keep detailed records of all your appointments and medical costs; you may need these later.
Find Support
After a vehicular accident, you may struggle with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or feel heightened anxiety in or around cars. Even if you don’t, recovering from your injuries may be a struggle and you may face higher levels of stress and anxiety in general. Make sure you seek support during this time, reaching out to family and friends and engaging in therapy or support groups when needed.
Getting hit by a drunk driver is one of the worst things you could ever face, but there are options available to you so that you can seek justice and appropriate compensation. As long as you follow these strategies, you’ll be in a much better position to recover smoothly and be compensated for your losses.
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