What To Do If You’re Injured By A Drunk Driver Over Memorial Day Weekend

May 25, 2021

Memorial Day Weekend is commonly an opportunity to hold parties, events, barbecues, and picnics. Alcohol is often served and consumed at many of these get-togethers. However, when someone chooses to consume alcohol and then get behind the wheel, they put themselves and others on the road at risk for an accident. 

If you are hit by a drunk driver over Memorial Day weekend in Pennsylvania, you may be entitled to pursue compensation for your injuries and expenses and losses in a legal claim against the drunk driver. Continue reading to find out what you should do after being injured by a drunk driver. 

What to Do after an Accident

After you’ve been involved in an accident caused by a driver that you suspect may be under the influence of alcohol, you should remember to take the following steps to protect your rights and options for seeking compensation:

• If you think the other driver may be drunk, you should contact the police department (or call 911 if you or someone else was hurt in the accident). Don’t let the other driver try to talk you out of calling the police. If the other driver is intoxicated, the police will be able to investigate and potentially arrest the driver so that they can perform a breathalyzer test.
• Make sure to get the contact, license, and insurance information from the other driver. If police have responded to the accident scene, officers will be able to obtain this information for you and may also record it in the police accident report.
• Take photos or video of the scene of the accident, damage to the vehicles involved in the crash, any skid marks on the road, and any visible injuries you have suffered.
• Get checked out by paramedics at the scene or go to the ER or your primary doctor as soon as possible after the accident to be examined for any injuries you may have sustained in the crash.
• Sit down with a drunk driving accident lawyer to discuss your legal rights and options and learn more about what you can do to recover compensation from the drunk driver.

Read more: Can I File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After My Accident?

How to Prove the Other Driver Was Drunk

In most cases, the easiest way to prove that the other driver was drunk is either to obtain their admission, or to rely on their conviction for DUI. Police who respond to the scene of a suspected drunk driving accident have training to recognize the signs of an intoxicated driver and can perform field sobriety tests to determine whether to arrest a driver on suspicion of DUI. If a driver is arrested, they are required to submit to a breathalyzer test that determines their blood alcohol content. For most drivers, a BAC of 0.08 percent or greater is sufficient to impose criminal liability for DUI.

Even if the driver is not convicted for DUI, you may be able to rely on other evidence to prove that the other driver was drunk, including:

• Evidence that the other driver consumed alcohol prior to the crash. 
• Eyewitness testimony of the other driver’s behavior on the road, including swerving or failing to keep the lane.
• Eyewitness testimony about the driver’s behavior and condition after the crash, such as slurred speech, bloodshot and glassy eyes, or swaying or inability to stand up or walk straight. 

Read more: 5 Tips to Stay Safe This Memorial Day Weekend

What Can You Be Compensated for in a Drunk Driving Accident Claim?

If you were injured by a drunk driver, you may be entitled to seek compensation for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages and earning potential
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Lost quality or enjoyment of life

Read more: What To Ask For In A Personal Injury Settlement in Pennsylvania

Contact a Pittsburgh Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Drunk Driving Accident Case in Pennsylvania

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a drunk driving accident in Pennsylvania? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Goodrich & Geist, P.C. represent clients injured because of drunk driving accidents in Pittsburgh and the surrounding Western PA counties. Call (412) 766-1455 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 3634 California Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.