Drunk driving accidents claim roughly 32 lives across the country every single day. Impaired motorists are also responsible for tens of thousands of injuries each year.
If your life was turned upside-down by a drunk driver, it’s only natural to want justice. While the outcome of any criminal proceedings will depend on factors beyond your control, you can at least file a tort claim in the hopes of holding the motorist financially responsible.
Granted, no amount of money will undo the accident or restore the life you led before it happened. Securing a payout could make it easier to pick up the pieces in the aftermath, though, so you can carry on with a normal life.
In order to seek compensation for the associated damages, you’re going to have to put together a compelling personal injury claim. This starts by gathering evidence of both liability and damages. Let’s take a look at what each will likely include:
Evidence of Liability for Drunk Driving Accident Claims
You should be able to use some combination of the following to prove that the motorist who struck you was under the influence of alcohol at the time:
- Eyewitness testimony,
- Surveillance footage of the driver being served at an establishment prior to the crash,
- The official police report,
- Toxicology results, and
- Social media posts.
Of course, it’s not enough to convince the insurance adjuster that the driver was impaired. You’re also going to have to demonstrate how they caused the wreck. In order to do that, you may need photographs of the scene, statements from accident reconstructionists, black box data, and dash camera footage.
Evidence of Damages for Drunk Driving Accident Claims
You’re going to have to prove that you actually incurred all the losses you’re seeking. As such, you should be prepared to present evidence like medical records, hospital bills, health insurance statements, and payroll documentation logging every shift you missed while out of work recovering.
Receipts and invoices will also come in handy when it comes time to make the case for reasonably necessary replacement services like housekeeping, meal preparation, and child care. And as for demonstrating non-economic damages like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of life enjoyment, you should be able to use personal journal entries, psych evaluations, and statements from loved ones.
Discuss Your Case with a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Long Beach
Your Injuries Are Personal to Me
For help holding a drunk driver accountable, turn to the Law Office of Michael D. Waks. We’ll leave no stone unturned in pursuit of the compensation you deserve. Call (562) 206-1939 or submit the Contact Form on our website to schedule a free initial consultation with a drunk driving accident lawyer in Long Beach.
Download Our Car Accident Emergency Response .PDF
Should you find yourself in another accident, you’ll want to make sure you document the scene. Since the aftermath of a wreck is always chaotic, though, it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve created a Car Accident Emergency Response .pdf. Download it HERE for free, and keep a copy in your vehicle, so you can refer to it in the event of a crash.