Important steps for car accident victims to take any day of the year.
On St Patrick’s Day, the feast day of the patron saint of Ireland, we must celebrate all things Irish. In parts of the US with strong Irish heritage, this can mean all kinds of cultural events such as live music, Irish dancing, and meals with authentic Irish dishes like corned beef and cabbage. But no matter where you may be on St Patrick’s Day, the celebrations will surely call for plenty of beer, and perhaps some Irish whiskey to chase it down.
Despite the strong tradition of drinking on St Patrick’s Day (and it is a legitimate tradition—churches in Ireland lift the Lent restrictions on alcohol just for St Pat) not that many serious car accidents take place. St Patrick’s Day is actually not even in the top 5 most dangerous holidays for car accidents.
Nonetheless, as on any holiday with a tradition of drinking, you do need to watch out for intoxicated drivers. Here are some important points to remember if you do end up getting into an accident with a drunk driver on St Patrick’s Day or any day of the year.
You Must Document the Scene of the Accident
In order to secure compensation for injuries suffered in a car accident, you need to prove exactly what happened. Specifically, you need to prove that another driver caused the accident and that the accident directly resulted in your injuries. Taking photos or videos of the scene of the accident can be extremely helpful to this effort. Ideally, you should try to take the photos before the vehicles are moved from the positions in which they came to rest after the accident.
Intoxication Does Not Guarantee Liability
Just because a driver is intoxicated does not necessarily make them totally liable for the accident. In California, liability may be shared between two or more parties depending on how their actions contributed to the accident. For example, if you ran a red light and a drunk driver hit you, you obviously bear the brunt of the responsibility for the accident. In more ambiguous cases, such as a drunk driver pulling out in front of you so that you had no time to stop, the fact of their intoxication may play more of a role in helping to substantiate your argument that they were driving recklessly.
You Need to Hire an Attorney
In the event of any kind of car accident, you need someone to serve as a strong advocate for your rights and interests, ensuring that liability is accurately assigned and compensation is awarded fairly. Michael A. Kahn can be the strong advocate you need. For best results, consult Attorney Kahn BEFORE you contact the insurance companies. That way, you can avoid accidentally making any statements that might harm or complicate your case.
If you would like a free initial consultation with Attorney Kahn, please call us at (310) 209-1600 now.
