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Drinking and driving is a serious offense. It does not only charge fines to you but also can send you to jail. If you get involved in a drunk driving accident, and you are the victim suffering from or have suffered from severe damages, you can sue the responsible party.
According to NHTSA, about 32 people in the United States die every day in drunk-driving crashes — that’s one person every 45 minutes. In 2020, 11,654 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths — a 14% increase from 2019. These deaths were all preventable.
You also can claim compensation for your damages. Holding the other party responsible will not get you the compensation you deserve. You need to follow proper legal procedures. It will only make your case stronger.
Drunk driving can be severe. Sometimes it can take lives or cause partial or complete impairment. Apart from damaging your vehicle, or property, if you are also injured due to a drunk driving accident, it can alter your life completely. You must go through a money-consuming treatment program; you can lose your wages due to your injuries.
If the injuries are severe and cause any impairment, you might need to change your career path. So, when you are going through all of these, and that too because someone was driving while drunk, they owe you compensation.
So, do you want to learn more?
Suing For Damages In A Drunk Driving Accident
When you are considering suing for damages in a drunk driving accident in New Jersey, you must follow a proper process and prepare your case just after the accident.
Here is a complete guide for suing in a drunk driving accident for your damages.
Inform The Police
The first thing you need to do is inform the police about the accident. And till the time the police arrive, you must wait at the accident spot. To file your damage claim, you must have a police report. Without any police report filing, your claim will get rejected. The police will come to the scene and will examine the accident spot properly.
Click Pictures Of The Accident And Damages
You need to provide evidence to prove your claim and damages. So, it is best to keep the proof handy. What can be better than some fresh photos? If you are in the condition, get some clicks of the accident spot and the damages you suffer. The damages can include both your physical injury and property damages. At the same time, you also need to ensure that you are safe.
Get An Accident Report
Make a note of everything related to the accident, and prepare a report. The report will only have a brief about the accident but also the details of the other party, who is involved in the accident or the one who is liable for this accident. The police will also prepare a report. You need to have a copy of that police report as well. Just as the police for providing you with a copy of the report they have prepared.
Take The Contact Details
Take the contact details of the other driver and their insurance company. In case any eyewitnesses have seen the accident happening and could take their contact details. Contact details will typically include their name, phone number, and address. It will save a lot of your time and strengthen your case because you can already contact eyewitnesses in case of need.
Take Medical Assistance
When you have an accident, it is common that you will have injuries. It doesn’t matter how minor the injuries seem; you must take proper medical assistance. Some injuries might seem not so serious, but with time, the injuries can worsen. This also goes for internal injuries as well. So, if you are thinking about skin, the doctor checks up, drop that idea now and get proper medical treatment. You need to file everything and present them in court.
File The Claim
Now come to the central part. You need to file the claim with all the necessary documents and proof that you have. You must file the claim within the time the law says. This period is called the statute of limitations. Any claim that is filed once the statute of limitations is over will not be taken under consideration.
Hire An Attorney
So, you see, there are many things you need to take care of when you sue someone for a drunk driving accident. It is best to opt for an experienced lawyer to ensure everything is in the proper order and your compensation is filed within the statute of limitations.
