While you should consult a Las Vegas personal injury attorney after any accident, this is especially important if you suspect the other driver of driving drunk. It’s important to ensure you take all of the actions necessary to help your case and protect your rights, so any claim you need to file will be successful. This begins with how you respond immediately after the accident, but also includes helping your lawyer pursue a successful claim.
After the accident occurs, you should question the other drivers involved for the purpose of learning their names, contact information, and insurance details. You should also obtain the names and contact information for passengers in any of the vehicles and witness to the accident. However, discussing the details of the accident should be avoided until the police arrive.
Once you have the basic information, you should call 9-1-1 for emergency help. They will need some of the information you just collected, so have that ready. They may also provide instructions for caring for the severely injured until professional medical help arrives.
While you’re waiting for the police and ambulance to arrive, use you cell phone to take pictures of the accident scene. Taking close-up and clear images of property damage caused in the accident will help your LV accident attorney pursue your claim. Additionally, be sure to make a statement to the police and request a copy of the police report. This step is especially important when you suspect that the other driver was drunk. The police report will contain the results of the field sobriety and other tests the police may have performed, as well as the officer’s professional opinion.
If the driver was drunk, a criminal trial will likely result from the accident. It’s important to avoid discussing a settlement with the insurance companies until after this trial concludes. This will give your LV drunk driving accident injury attorney time to properly evaluate your total damages, while also providing more evidence for pursuing your claim. The evidence in a criminal trial can often be used in a civil lawsuit.
Hiring experienced LV personal injury lawyers, such as Albright, Stoddard, Warnick & Albright, can make a big difference in handling your drunk driving personal injury claim. Those who do hire an attorney are more likely to obtain a favorable outcome than those who try to negotiate a settlement on their own. An initial consultation will help you learn more about what you can expect in your case.