The holiday season is here, and many people are celebrating. Whether you are having drinks with old friends, sipping eggnog, or toasting champagne to a Happy New Year, you should always have a plan for how to get home. With Uber, Lyft, and traditional taxi services, there is no excuse for anyone to get behind the wheel after drinking.
Unfortunately, no matter how safe you may be, you can never keep others from putting your life in danger. Despite the known risks - and criminal consequences - of drinking and driving, an alarming number of people continue to do so. The number of drunk drivers only increases during the holiday season.
Law enforcement officers in Connecticut prepare for the greater number of drunk drivers by increasing enforcement efforts from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, including setting up DUI checkpoints. In some areas of Connecticut, they are having people try on a suit that mimics intoxication so they can realize the effects alcohol can have on their driving ability. Even so, watch out for drunk drivers whenever you’re on the roads during the holiday season.
Some signs of a drunk driver include:
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Swerving
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Driving without headlights
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Not staying in their intended lane
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Driving the wrong way
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Driving too fast or too slow
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Hesitating at green lights
Even if you steer clear of suspicious drivers, a car can always come out of nowhere and crash into yours, causing serious injuries to you and your family. You should always discuss how you can hold the drunk driver liable for your losses with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Police Will Never Help You Recover Compensation
While it may be supremely satisfying to see the drunk driver that hit you get hauled off in handcuffs, it’s important to be aware of the fact that the criminal aspect of the case is completely separate from your civil claim. In order to recover compensation for your losses, you will need to make a claim with the drunk driver’s insurance policy, and the insurance company will likely want to negotiate a settlement with you. Insurance companies are in the business of making money and do everything they can to minimize payouts to accident victims, so it’s important to have an attorney on your side during the settlement process. In the event that the insurance company refuses to settle your case for a reasonable amount, you will have to file a lawsuit against the driver in order to recover compensation.
Call Us Today to Speak with a Connecticut Personal Injury Attorney
At Leighton, Katz & Drapeau, we are committed to helping injured victims obtain compensation for their medical expenses, lost income, repair bills, and other accident-related losses. We know how difficult the aftermath of an accident can be and do everything we can to resolve claims quickly while ensuring our clients get the compensation they deserve. To schedule a free case evaluation with a personal injury lawyer serving Connecticut, call our office today at 860-875-7000 or contact us online.
