What if I Was Injured by a Drunk Driver?

Unfortunately, especially at a time when people are going out and celebrating Halloween festivities, there are far too many drunk drivers present on the road. You may have noticed a driver’s erratic actions in the moments leading up to your accident, but ultimately, you could not reasonably and safely avoid the collision. Having witnessed their driving beforehand, though, you may suspect that they are heavily under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol. If this is your prediction, please continue reading to learn what to do if a drunk driver has injured you and how an experienced Passaic County auto accident lawyer at the Law Offices of August R. Soltis can help you approach your legal claim against them appropriately.

What should I do if I believe a drunk driver injured me?

In the immediate moments following your collision with a possibly drunk driver, it might be in your best interest to remain in your vehicle, if it is safe to do so. Suppose you approach the drunk driver’s vehicle. Well, you cannot predict whether they will exhibit aggressive behavior, reveal a weapon, drive towards you, etc.

Instead, you should swiftly dial 911 and wait for a law enforcement officer to respond. When they arrive at the scene, you should inform them of your suspicion that the other driver is intoxicated so that they may conduct the accident report accordingly. That is, this may prompt them to request that the other driver submit to a breathalyzer test, field sobriety tests, etc.

How do I handle my claim against a drunk driver?

If your suspicions prove true, the responding law enforcement officer may arrest the other driver for a DUI. Of note, this is considered a serious criminal offense in New Jersey, requiring that they defend themselves in criminal trial proceedings. This is to say that their criminal trial may take precedence over the court proceedings for the personal injury claim you may place against them.

Rest assured, your patience may be worth it, as you may recover financial compensation for injuries and damages in the end. What’s more, the New Jersey criminal court handling their drunk driving case may order them to pay restitution to you to cover your experienced financial losses.

It must be noted, though, that just because a drunk driver is found guilty in their criminal case does not automatically mean that you will win your civil case against them. Rather, you must still make an effort to build a solid case against them by first establishing their negligence and then how their negligence directly caused you to get injured and incur damages.

If this blog has deeply resonated with your personal situation and concerns thus far, please reach out to a skilled Passaic County personal injury lawyer for more information. The team at the Law Offices of August R. Soltis will be glad to represent you in your upcoming legal case.