The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that people drive while intoxicated about 11 million times each year. Of the 11 million, police will catch ONLY about 1% of these incidents. With these staggering statistics, it’s no wonder that 33% of people will be in an accident with a drunk driver at some point in their lifetime.
Many times, drunk driving accidents are minor, but, on occasion, a drunk driver can cause serious injuries and even death. In fact, 30 people a day die in drunk driving accidents.
In Kentucky the law forbids people from driving if their Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is 0.08% or higher. If someone causes an accident and appears to be drunk, law enforcement officers will usually require the person to submit to a breathalyzer and/or field sobriety test.
If someone dies at the hands of a drunk driver, the offender may be charged with vehicular homicide. In addition, the driver’s insurance company will most likely make a financial settlement. However, criminal legal proceedings and the resulting punishments are not meant to help the victims recover financially. The fines go to the jurisdiction, not the victim. As good as it may feel to see justice served, you may continue to have needs from the accident. That’s where civil law comes in.
Aside from contacting a personal injury lawyer here are 4 things to do when hit by a drunk driver:
- As the victim, involve yourself in the criminal process;
- Notify the driver’s insurance company of your potential claim;
- Notify your own insurance carrier; and
- Find out, if possible, where the other driver was drinking and track down any witnesses.
While a personal injury attorney cannot always help with the emotional complications that come with an accident, they can help you recover from your financial loses.
If you were involved in a serious accident caused by a drunk driver you may have medical expenses, loss wagers, and damaged property.
Contact Kaiman & Crahan today – Your Louisville Attorneys.