Not getting into the reason why someone drinks, it’s clear that it’s not a good idea to seat behind the wheel after booze. Penalties for drunk driving are high and rigorous. However, it still didn’t sober up drivers. Although it seems that ‘only a few shots’ can’t harm, just a few seconds is enough to cause a catastrophe.

What the real dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol are, read here:https://www.verywellmind.com/drunk-driving-the-dangers-63002

Below you can find guidelines that can prepare you for this unpleasant situation.

What if You Are the Culprit

Besides the penalties for a criminal act of endangering public safety, you’ll also have to compensate victims, if they suffered material damage or injuries. They can file civil claims against you if there’s enough evidence.

Do You Need a Lawyer with Experience in DWI Cases?

In cases where you were drunk and responsible for an accident, you have to defend yourself. Your guilt is obvious, so you should expect the punishment. The type, length, and severity of the penalties depend on the skills of your legal team.

A good legal team is crucial for your defense. You can ask for recommendations or finding their website to get in touch with them. If you hire lawyers specialized in DWI, they can manage that the amount of alcohol you have entered is not related to an accident. That won’t save you from the penalty court determine, but it can be significantly lower, especially if it is your first delict.

What if You Are the Victim?

In the case of an accident caused by a drunk driver, you have to stay calm. People are often afraid and forget what to do, so they start to panic and then things seem even more frightening. You have to take some steps to take care of the injured (if any), provide the site of the accident, and contact the emergency and the police.

Police duty is to make a record on-site, and you can help them. Cops don’t have anything to do with your material damage – their job is to identify the culprit and bring them to the court. They will collect evidence, talk to the participants of the accident and perform alcohol and drug test, measuring the level of opiates in your blood. You can use these proofs if you want to sue the culprit.

Should You Do Anything before the Police Come?

Before the authorities come, you should talk to other participants, collect contact information and details of the insurance policy. So you will have the basis to seek remuneration. Also, look for witnesses, in case you want to file the claim. Before taking further steps, even before talking to the other participants, you should contact a lawyer.

If you suspect that the culprit might escape from the place of an accident or hide some proof, collect evidence on your own. You can make a few shots of the spot and damaged items. The police will do this too, but you can always add your own material.

What Can You Ask as Compensation?

As the damaged party in the accident, you have the right to ask for the defendant to pay for your material damage and injuries. Going to court is an option when there is no possibility of settlement with the culprit. This is a long and exhausting process, but it is sometimes the only way to get your compensation.

Refunds of the costs of treatment or repairs are mandatory costs that the accused party, or its insurance company, has to pay. The great advantage is that the court usually determines the higher amount – it charges many items which insurance often avoids.

These are, for example, lost earnings if you are disabled for work; then, stress and the consequences for your mental health; and ultimately, the payment of the penalty and the entire costs of the trial. On this page, learn how experts determine emotional damage rate.

Drunk people are in the state of disrupted consciousness, and their mischiefcan cause an accident.Even if they are not the main culprit for the car crash, if the level of alcohol in their blood shows more than the permissible limit, they can be charged with compromising public safety.