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  • First, call 911 and tell them the accident has happened (including any observations you made that lead you to suspect a drunk driver’s involvement). When first responders arrive, as we mentioned above, seek medical attention. If an EMT recommends you take an ambulance ride to the hospital, then follow that advice. If not, then still follow up with your regular doctor or at an urgent care clinic within 24 hours.
  • Second, if you do not require emergency medical attention at a hospital, then you can also take steps to gather some important information at the accident scene that could help protect your legal rights. Only if safe to do so and without getting in the way of first responders, get names, contact information, and insurance information from all drivers involved in the crash. (Exercise caution, however, around any suspected drunk driver.) Take pictures or video with your cell phone of the accident scene. Footage of a driver acting drunk could prove especially useful, but try at least to capture images of the condition of the vehicles, their positions on the roadway, and of the surrounding area (including lighting, signage, and road conditions).
  • Third, when first responders arrive, tell them about anything you observed that leads you to think someone involved drove drunk. Stick to the facts, and do not say anything that directly or indirectly takes any of the blame for the crash. Even a statement like “I should have seen him coming” could get misinterpreted or deliberately taken out of context as an admission of guilt. Just tell the police what happened, nothing more.
  • Fourth and finally, call our experienced drunk driving accident injury attorneys right away. Seeking compensation for injuries you suffered in a drunk driving accident can involve some legal complexity. The sooner you have an attorney on your side protecting your rights, the better your chances of seeing justice done and recovering the compensation you deserve for your injuries.