The risks associated with drunk driving are well established, and West Virginia is by no means immune to this dangerous practice. Motorists who refuse to take the safety of others on the road seriously enough, such as those who drive under the influence of alcohol, can be held responsible for the physical, financial, and emotional damages they cause. If a drunk driver leaves you or someone you love injured in a traffic accident, you need the professional legal counsel of an experienced West Virginia car accident lawyer on your side.
The Statistics
The West Virginia DMV reports that, over the course of the last five years, 23 percent of all fatal traffic accidents in the state were related to alcohol consumption, and in 2020 alone, 60 of the 264 traffic fatalities involved alcohol impairment. Nationally, alcohol-fueled crashes take a life every 39 minutes, and in 2022, there were more than 13,500 alcohol-related traffic fatalities. In other words, alcohol poses an immense risk on roads throughout West Virginia and the nation.
Impairment Caused by Alcohol
The negative impact of alcohol on motorists increases in relation to the amount consumed and includes all the following:
- Lapses in judgment
- Exaggerated behaviors
- Decreased control over small muscles, such as the ability to focus one’s eyes
- Lowered inhibitions, difficulty paying attention, and slowed reaction times
- Poor muscle coordination or control that can affect balance and speech
- The inability to pay adequate attention
Each of these represents a clear danger when the person experiencing it is behind the wheel. Driving safely requires motorists to focus on what is happening all around them and to effectively respond to all risk factors that arise, which simply isn’t possible when the driver is under the influence of alcohol.
The Losses You Experience
If you’re injured in a car accident that was caused by a drunk driver, you can experience considerable losses that include all the following:
- Property damage to your vehicle and its contents
- Medical expenses, which may need to address complications or secondary healthcare concerns and could be ongoing
- Lost income, which may include decreased earnings into the future if your ability to do your job or to continue advancing your career is affected
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering, which can make your other losses more difficult to adequately address and can overshadow them in terms of overall impact
A seasoned car accident lawyer has the legal insight and drive to help ensure that every category of loss you experience is clearly represented in your car accident claim.
Bringing a Strong Car Accident Claim
If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver, your claim will be specific to the unique circumstances that apply, but there are several steps that everyone in your difficult position is well advised to take.
Get the Medical Help You Need
Even if you don’t think you were seriously injured in the car accident in question, it’s in your best interest to seek immediate medical attention. Following a violent car accident, it’s not unusual to experience a rush of adrenaline and even shock, which can mask the symptoms that indicate injury, including pain.
When it comes to your health, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, and because early intervention is so closely associated with improved outcomes, getting checked out by a medical professional is always advised. Doing so also lets the insurance company handling your claim know that you were injured by their policyholder’s negligence and that you’re taking the matter as seriously as they should.
Consult with a Dedicated Car Accident Attorney
As soon as you’re able to do so, discuss your claim with a trusted car accident lawyer. Your attorney will ensure that you have the evidence necessary to build your strongest claim, will help you smoothly navigate the challenging path forward toward a fair settlement, will communicate with the involved insurance company on your behalf, and will be well-prepared to fight for your rights and your rightful compensation in court if the insurance company refuses to engage in productive negotiations.
Take Your Medical Team’s Advice
Another important element of your recovery and of your car accident claim is following through with the advice and instructions your medical team provides, including attending all follow-up appointments and moving forward with all treatments, tests, and procedures.
Give Social Media a Pass for Now
The fact is that the insurance company handling your claim is focused on its own profits and will do what it can to keep your settlement low. In the process, they will be looking for ways to limit their liability, and a common source of information is social media. This means the insurance company will be scouring your posts in the hope of demonstrating that you weren’t as seriously injured as you say you were, that your injuries were preexisting, or that just about anything else they can dream up applies – and they aren’t afraid to get creative. Ultimately, the less information you share, the less ammunition they’ll have to damage your claim.
The same goes for providing the insurance company with a statement. A better plan is leaving the talking to your focused car accident attorney.
An Experienced West Virginia Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you’ve been injured in a terrifying car accident that was caused by a drunk driver, obtaining just compensation is key to your recovery, and Chirag Desai at Desai Law is a resourceful car accident attorney who is standing by to help you with that. Chirag is a committed champion of accident victims who feel as if they have no voice in the legal process, and he will spare no effort in his focused advocacy for a settlement or court award that supports your most complete recovery. We are on your side and here to help, so please don’t wait to contact or call us at 304-974-1974 for more information about what we can do for you today.
