What Happens if You’re Injured by a Drunk Driver in Maryland?

Drivers can’t anticipate when they are in a fender bender or worse; that’s why they call them accidents. Making any vehicle collision worse is when someone intentionally gets behind the wheel after drinking to drive. What happens after you are injured in a drunk driving accident in Maryland does matter. In fact, it can greatly influence your settlement and compensation. These are things you need to know to avoid jeopardizing what you are entitled to.

What Should You Do Immediately After a Drunk Driving Accident

What you do following a drunk driving accident is critical to your accident claim and what follows. Often, drunk driving accidents result in more severe injuries, which can be life-altering. The very first step for anyone in an accident is to call 911. Even if you think you aren’t injured, it is imperative to seek medical attention.

Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Many drivers wrongly assume that they aren’t injured following an accident. Post-accident, most motorists’ adrenaline is high, which makes it unlikely that they will feel injured, even if they are. Also, many accidents leave people with injuries they don’t immediately recognize. Drunk driving accidents often result in whiplash and other soft tissue injuries, which often aren’t discovered until months later. If you aren’t seen immediately, it will be hard for you to trace your injuries back to the original accident if, and when, the injuries surface.

Cooperate with Law Enforcement

Motorists often don’t want to take the time after an accident to fill out a police report or speak in depth with law enforcement, but that is a huge mistake. After a car collision, make sure to tell your side of the events and have them recorded. What is documented right after the accident holds the most weight. The police are there to help you navigate the decisions you make going forward. Having clear documentation from all parties involved, including you, is one of the most important pieces to deciphering who is at fault, how it happened, and the general logistics of what went on before the collision.

Obtain the Police Report

You will need a copy of the police report for insurance and legal purposes. Once you finish filling out the report, try to obtain a copy for yourself. It is something that you can obtain after the dust has cleared and your injuries and physical status have been evaluated, but if you can get it in-hand right away, even better.

Take Photos and Videos

Your phone is going to be one of your best witnesses. It is important to take as many photos and videos of the site and surrounding area as you can. All parties involved will have their perspective and narrative about conditions, what happened, and where stoplights and other signs were located, but film and video will be impartial. Also, make sure to note any weather conditions, visibility problems, and, most importantly, get images of both cars and any other damage you can immediately see.

Gather Witness Information

While you wait for law enforcement and medical attention, talk with any pedestrians or witnesses to the accident. If there are people who saw what happened and are willing to go on record, make sure to get their information. A lot of times, people won’t want to wait around for the aftermath post-accident, but they will be willing to give you their contact information for the future. The most important thing you can do is to document everything possible to compile the best picture of what really happened.

Avoid Discussing Fault

When you are in an accident, what you say matters, and that goes for what you say out loud or to anyone. Simple statements can be misconstrued, so it is best not to discuss any accident details with anyone, even those you are close to. Also, don’t ever post any details about the accident to social media. Even if you have a private account and think that no one can see it, they can, and if it is something that the opposing council can use to try to prove you were at fault, they will. Just answer questions as they are asked and don’t offer any more information. If you aren’t sure about a question, it is best to just state that you don’t know rather than to guess or put your opinion on any question.

Notify Your Insurance Company

Before you leave the scene of the accident, make sure to contact your insurance company immediately. Your insurance company will begin the claim process, and they will also guide you about what you need to do. The most important documents you will need will come from law enforcement, but it is also imperative to write everything down. Also, if possible, get the other driver’s information, including name, phone number, address, driver’s license number, and insurance information. Although the police report will have that information, and likely so will the insurance company, you will want it handy for your own records, just in case.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney

Although it might seem like you can wait to contact a personal injury attorney in a couple of days, after you call 911, you should contact a lawyer. What you do after an accident is very critical, and every step you take matters. If you hire a lawyer out of the gate, they can protect you by handling the logistics. That way, not only will you ensure you don’t do or say anything that will affect your eligibility for compensation, but you can also ensure that you take the steps necessary to have all the right documentation, follow the correct steps, and that you are protected against anything that you might unwittingly not know about.

If you’ve been in a drunk driving accident in Maryland, what you do does matter. An accident with a drunk driver has the additional baggage of next steps to protect your eligibility for compensation. The most important first steps are seeking medical care, filling out a police report, and hiring a personal injury lawyer to keep you protected. At Troxler & Troxler, we provide a legal voice for the injured and accused and will do all we can to fight for all that is yours. Contact us today so that you can recover, heal, and get back to life as it once was.