Managing Partner
Being involved in any sort of accident is frightening, and all the more distressing when the at-fault driver is drunk. You likely will not understand the extent of your injuries, but you will realize that the driver was too intoxicated to care about them. Worse, there’s even the chance that the driver will flee the scene and potentially endanger others in doing so.
If you’ve been in a Long Island drunk driving accident, it’s vital to your health and legal rights that you know what to do next. One of the most important steps is hiring an experienced law firm that is ready to fight for the compensation you need. That firm is Dell & Dean PLLC.
Step 1: Get Immediate Medical Attention
Call 911 and report the accident, and let emergency personnel respond to the scene. If you decline an ambulance trip, you need to at least see a doctor as soon as possible. This is the case even if you believe you were not injured or that you only suffered minor injuries.
You should not only see a doctor, but make sure you follow your doctor’s recommendations. If you don’t, you could endanger your health or aggravate your injuries. Moreover, failure to see a doctor will allow the at-fault driver or other party to try to evade liability.
Step 2: Tell the Police What Happened – But Limit What You Say
The police in Long Island will arrive at the scene to take a statement from you and generate a police report, a copy of which you need to obtain later. You should explain only the basic facts about what happened. It is imperative that you not speculate about how the accident occurred or apologize (even if you think you were partly at fault).
Also, tell the police if the drunk driver fled. It is not uncommon for drunk drivers to leave the scene of an accident in a panic or to avoid liability. Tell the officer any details you can remember, including the identity of the driver and the make and model of their vehicle, and let police work to capture the suspect.
Step 3: Start Gathering Evidence
The accident scene will not remain intact for very long, so you need to start documenting as much as you can. Start with the following:
- Take pictures and record videos of the accident scene, including damage done to your vehicle
- Do the same for your injuries and, if possible, ask someone else to take pictures of you
- Speak with any witnesses at the scene who saw the accident, and get their contact information
- Take notes about everything you can remember such as the date, time, location, and conditions (e.g. whether it was rainy or foggy)
- Identify any businesses in the area and any surveillance cameras which may have recorded the accident
- Keep any and all medical records and documentation of missed work
- Start a personal journal in which you write down the effects of the accident on your daily life
Step 4: Don’t Talk to the Insurance Companies
The at-fault driver’s insurance company may make you a settlement offer or ask you to give a recorded statement. Don’t accept the settlement offer without speaking with a Long Island personal injury lawyer, and don’t give a recorded statement. The insurance company is only looking out for its best interests, not yours.
If you sign a settlement agreement without having an attorney review your case, you will waive all rights to additional money if your injuries end up being worse. And the insurer will use anything you say in a recorded statement to either underpay or deny your claim.
Step 5: Retain a Skilled Personal Injury Attorney
The sooner you hire a personal injury attorney, the sooner you can get working on the compensation you deserve. Among other tasks, your lawyer will:
- Investigate the accident and acquire evidence pointing to fault
- Assist with locating the at-fault driver if they fled the scene
- Determine if other parties may be liable, such as a Long Island bar that served the drunk driver too much alcohol
- Interview witnesses who can testify on your behalf
- Help you determine which damages (e.g. medical bills) you can claim
- Hire expert witnesses, who can testify about complex matters like the value of any future damages
- Negotiate with the insurance companies and their lawyers to try to reach a fair settlement
- Take your case to court if you are unable to settle
Were you or a loved one injured because of a drunk driver? Dell & Dean PLLC is here to explain your legal options and get to work for you. Start your case now by giving us a call or completing our online contact form.
