A car accident is scary no matter what the situation, but it can be an even harder situation when one or more people are injured. No matter what the situation is, it is important to remain calm and ensure that everyone is safe. This includes giving first aid, calling for help, and moving vehicles out of harm’s way if possible.
However, when the driver of the other car was clearly under the influence of alcohol then it is easy to not know what to do. Read on to learn about how to handle yourself in that particular situation. Then reach out to The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation if you have been injured in a car accident.
Stay in control
You may feel like getting emotional. You must stop this from happening. Your goal at this moment is to control the damage that has been done. You will have time to exact justice in the future but now is not the time. Remember that people are often in shock after an accident and someone has to be the calm, reasonable one. Try to be that person.
Do not engage with the driver
It is always a waste of your time to try and talk to or engage with a person who is drunk. In this case, it could even be dangerous. A person who is drunk can be unpredictable and in this situation they are likely pumped with adrenaline too. They could take out their feelings of guilt on you, or otherwise try to blame you for what happened. You do not need an altercation. Instead, just stay away from them and do not argue with them if they speak to you.
Gather information
As you would do with any car accident, gather all the relevant information you can. Get somewhere safe and take pictures of the vehicles involved. Write down the other driver’s license plate number. Exchange personal information with others at the scene so that you have witnesses. Contact the police right away and let them know you believe the driver is drunk. They will get their personal information so you don’t have to.
Get somewhere safe
If your car is safe then stay in it. If you cannot do so, then get to the side of the road. Stay away from traffic. If you have reason to believe that the drunk driver may try to get aggressive, then you can try to flag down another car. You may also want to ask a witness to stay with you. If you do not believe that you can stay nearby safely then you can leave the scene just be sure to call the police immediately, stay nearby, and return when it is safe.
If you have been involved in any type of accident, whether a car accident, motorcycle accident, or another type of accident entirely, reach out to The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation. We are here to help you.
