If you’ve ever heard of the DUI car accident phenomenon known as Blackout Wednesday or “Drinksgiving,” you know that it is a day over the holiday season when drunk driving accidents increase dramatically. Occurring on the day before Thanksgiving, this night often sees many drunk drivers taking to the road, resulting in serious and, sometimes, fatal accidents.
Understanding Blackout Wednesday, which is considered one of the biggest drinking nights of the year, can help you avoid a drunk-driving crash. However, if you’ve been in a collision caused by an impaired driver already, you may need a Sacramento drunk driving car accident lawyer.
An attorney can help you seek damages for the injuries and losses you’ve sustained in the crash.
What To Do After a DUI Car Accident on Blackout Wednesday
If you’ve been involved in a DUI car accident caused by an intoxicated driver on Blackout Wednesday, there are several steps you should take to protect your safety and right to compensation.
Here’s what you should do immediately after a crash caused by an intoxicated driver:
Call 911
The first thing you should do after a drunk driving incident is pull over to a safe area of the road and assess your injuries. If you or anyone else involved in the crash is seriously hurt, call an ambulance right away. If no one needs immediate medical attention, you should still call 911, but instead of asking for an ambulance, ask the operator to send a police officer.
The police can come to the scene of the accident and give the drunk driver a sobriety test. If they determine that the offending driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) is over the legal limit, they’ll arrest them for impaired driving. The officers who respond to the crash scene can also write up an accident report that your attorney can use to build a strong claim for compensation.
Exchange Information With Other Drivers
To get the compensation you need to recover from a Blackout Wednesday DUI car accident, you’ll have to get contact and insurance details from the other parties involved in the collision. The police can help you obtain the alcohol-impaired driver’s information, but if there were other motorists involved, you’ll need to speak to them to exchange contact and insurance details.
Document the Drunk Driving Accident
While the police will likely include important details in the accident report they generate, you’ll also want to document the incident. To do so, take photos of the crash scene, including shots of vehicles, vehicle damage, visible injuries, and the general area where the accident took place.
It can also be helpful to keep records of how the accident affects you, your finances, and your health. Save your medical bills, vehicle repair invoices, mental health counseling records, and any other documents that speak to the economic and non-economic losses you’ve endured due to the crash.
Speak to Witnesses
If anyone saw the crash occur, ask them if they can give a statement to your attorney. Having eye-witness testimony can help prove that the offending driver was under the influence of alcohol and that their reckless behavior caused the collision.
Hire a Drunk Driving Car Accident Lawyer
Recovering from a Blackout Wednesday or Drinksgiving DUI car accident can be a slow and expensive process. Fortunately, a personal injury lawyer can help you get the money you need to cover your medical bills and other accident-related losses.
A skilled lawyer can investigate your crash, file a solid insurance claim on your behalf, and even represent you in court.
If your claim or civil suit is successful, you could receive financial remedies, including:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Property damage and vehicle repair costs
- Lost wages
- Decreased earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages if your loved one was involved in a fatal crash caused by a drunk driver
How To Avoid a DUI Car Accident on Blackout Wednesday
While the easiest way to avoid a serious motor vehicle accident on Drinksgiving is to stay home and avoid driving at night, that’s not always possible. If you have to drive, make sure you pull over and contact the police if you see someone who is driving recklessly.
If you plan on consuming alcohol at a holiday party, make sure you have a designated sober driver.
Having a safe ride home will keep you and other motorists safe from a deadly collision. Remember, even if your blood alcohol concentration is below the legal limit, it can still be unsafe to drive. If you’ve had any alcohol, it’s best to avoid driving.
A DUI Car Accident Attorney Can Help You Recover From a Blackout Wednesday Crash
If you’ve been injured in a Blackout Wednesday DUI car accident, don’t hesitate to contact a personal injury lawyer. A drunk driving car accident lawyer from Sacramento can investigate your collision, calculate how much you’re owed, and fight for the damages you need to cover your losses.
Most personal injury attorneys offer free consultations and don’t charge upfront fees. No-obligation case evaluations and contingency-fee payment policies can take the financial stress out of pursuing compensation for your injuries and losses.
There’s no risk in talking to an experienced attorney, so don’t wait to schedule a consultation and get started on your case.