Waterford Drunk Driving Injury Lawyer
Waterford Drunk Driving Injury Attorney
It can be overwhelming to be in a car accident of any kind, but being the victim of a drunk-driving accident can be particularly infuriating. You may not know what to do next or what options are available to you in pursuing damages or justice. Additionally, you may be dealing with serious injuries or even psychological trauma. Choosing to pursue a case in civil court may be the right course. A Waterford, CT, drunk driving injury lawyer can help you.
Reaching out to a Waterford drunk driving accident injury attorney may prove to be the most important decision you make in your case. The team at Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law can help you establish a drunk driving accident injury claim by building a case, gathering evidence, and protecting your interests. It can be valuable to have someone on your side who understands Connecticut’s drunk driving accident laws as they apply to your specific case.
What Should You Do After a Drunk Driving Accident?
Drunk driving accidents are not rare. They happen frequently in every state, including Connecticut.
According to recent statistical data from the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS), there were more than 8,500 DUI crashes throughout the state between 2021 and 2023, including 371 crashes that resulted in a serious injury. More than 30 people die every day in a drunk driving accident. According to CTDOT, 113 people were killed in DUI-related accidents in the state in 2023 alone.
When you’re the victim of such an accident, taking the right steps to document the circumstances properly can be helpful in the long run. Here are some of those steps:
- After an accident, you always need to keep a calm head and focus primarily on your own safety, as well as the safety of any passengers who may be in the car with you. Call 911 to report the accident as soon as possible. While waiting for the authorities to arrive, you should check everyone for injuries, including yourself. When first responders arrive, they can gather evidence of drunk driving through field tests and breathalyzers.
- Get checked out by the EMTs, even if you don’t think you’re injured. Adrenaline and shock can make it difficult or impossible to notice an injury, or your injuries could be internal. The EMTs can assess this. Regardless, you should go to a hospital on your own later to get medical documentation of your injuries and a thorough examination. They may find something the EMTs missed.
- Make sure you document everything. Take as many photos of the accident scene as you can, including photos of the damage done to all vehicles, your injuries, the road itself, and any road signs. Talk to witnesses and get their statements if they’re willing to help, as this can be beneficial later when you file a claim. You need to get the other driver’s contact and insurance information. Make notes of any signs that they’re intoxicated.
- Get a copy of the accident report for your case and contact your own insurance carrier to inform them of the crash. Don’t accept any responsibility for the accident and don’t speculate on anything. Report the facts and only the facts. If they try to record you, don’t consent to that without speaking with a lawyer first.
The Claims Process
When the time comes to negotiate a settlement or move forward with a claim in civil court with a case that arose in Waterford, your case is likely to be held in New London Superior Court, which is on Huntington Street. This court serves Waterford for civil matters, including personal injury cases. The state takes drunk driving accident cases seriously, and some accidents may lead to criminal charges as well.
Drivers on the road are responsible for ensuring their actions don’t put anyone else in danger, including other drivers or pedestrians. Choosing to drive drunk is refusing to take that responsibility and causing other people likely harm, which gives victims the right to pursue legal action if they are injured. Here are some of the vital steps in the accident claims process following a drunk driving incident:
- Every personal injury claim starts with contacting an experienced accident lawyer who can walk you through each step of your case and prevent you from making any costly mistakes. As soon as you decide to file an accident claim and pursue damages, you should contact a lawyer to assist you through it.
- Proving they were drunk may not be enough, even if they ended up with criminal charges. To move forward with your case, you need to prove that negligence was a major contributing factor beyond the driver’s intoxication. Being drunk doesn’t automatically mean that they caused the accident. You need to show that they breached a duty of care and that the breach was the cause of the accident.
- Don’t be quick to accept the first settlement that’s offered to you. The driver’s insurance company may try to lowball you on the first offer in the hopes that you are eager to resolve the case. Your lawyer may advise you to refuse that offer and provide a counteroffer that’s much more agreeable to you. You’re under no obligation to accept an offer you find insulting or unacceptable.
Why Should You Hire a Drunk Driving Accident Injury Lawyer?
There are quite a few substantial reasons why you should hire a drunk driving accident lawyer. Above all, you want to be sure the right people are handling your case and offering you guidance when you really need it. You may also be struggling with an injury or trauma brought on by the accident. Having a lawyer take charge of everything can give you the chance to focus on recovering.
At Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law, we have been building a solid reputation in eastern Connecticut for nearly 80 years. We prioritize client relationships, give back to the community, and have earned recognition by multiple organizations, including Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers. We can provide the necessary resources to hold the right people accountable for your accident and ensure you are compensated.
Contact us today to speak to someone on our team who can help.
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