Kitchener Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
Accidents caused by drunk drivers can be tragic and life-threatening. Per Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD Canada), every day, on average, up to four Canadians are killed as the result of drunk driving. Survivors of collisions with drunk drivers can sustain serious, even catastrophic injuries, which could have a serious impact on their quality of life, and the lives of their loved ones. Injuries resulting from accidents with drunk drivers could lead to significant medical costs and a substantial loss of income.
If the reckless, illegal behaviour of a drunk driver caused you to sustain serious injuries, a Kitchener car accident lawyer may be able to help you seek accountability and restitution.
How Drinking Impairs Driving
Driving while under the influence of alcohol is extremely dangerous. Alcohol can impair a person’s judgment and reflexes faster than they may realize. Per the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), even though the maximum legal blood alcohol concentration for fully licensed drivers is 0.08, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation reports that even one drink could impact a driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle and increase their chances of causing an accident.
When impaired by alcohol, a motorist might experience losses in judgment, slowed reflexes, blurred vision, and other dangerous side-effects that could lead to a collision. Impaired drivers may be quick to overcompensate for mistakes, or slow to react to other vehicles on the road. Drunk drivers might even lose consciousness while driving. Any scenario involving a drunk driver behind the wheel can be extremely dangerous and have fatal consequences.
Steps to Take After an Accident with a Drunk Driver
If you are involved in a collision with a drunk driver, taking certain actions immediately might help prevent further injury, and could assist in future legal action.
First and foremost, seeking emergency medical attention, even if you are unsure that you sustained injuries, may provide you with an accurate assessment of your medical condition, and lead to important, time-sensitive procedures required for your recovery. In the shocking aftermath of an accident, the severity of an injury may be delayed by hours or even days. Going to the hospital immediately following an accident might help prevent complications resulting from delayed symptoms.
If there were any eyewitnesses to the collision, recording their names and contact information may be useful, in case they need to be reached to give testimony during future legal proceedings.
In the moments following a collision, while the circumstances of the event are still fresh in your mind, recording any important details immediately may help create a thorough and accurate account of the events leading to your accident. If your Smartphone hasn’t been damaged in the collision, you could use its notepad app or voice recording function to record the details.
Recoverable Damages from a Drunk Driving Accident
Drunk driving accidents can cause victims to incur significant damages, severe injuries, and substantial financial losses. Victims whose quality of life has been impacted because of another driver’s negligence may be eligible to receive financial compensation for their losses. If eligible, a Kitchener drunk driving accident lawyer may be able to help victims recover damages for the following:
- Medical bills and expenses
- Prescription costs
- Lost wages due to an inability to work
- Loss of future earnings
- Disability or disfigurement
- Pain and suffering compensation
Consult a Kitchener Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
If your life has been affected because of a drunk driver’s negligence in the Kitchener area, you may be able to seek compensation for the injuries you’ve sustained. A Kitchener drunk driving accident lawyer may be able to help you determine if you are eligible to pursue financial compensation. Contact Preszler Injury Lawyers today for a free, initial consultation about your case.