Last weekend was the Fourth of July, and inevitably there were dozens or more tragic stories of people across the nation enjoying the holiday a little too much at a bar or barbecue, getting behind the wheel and causing an accident after driving while under the influence. It is not uncommon for such injuries to leave victims with serious, catastrophic or even deadly injuries.
As much as state and local authorities in Connecticut try to prevent such accidents with severe penalties for drunk driving as well as proactive measures such as checkpoints at places and times when drunk driving is more common, it is impossible to keep drunk drivers off the road entirely. So, what should you do if you find yourself the victim of someone else who irresponsibly decided to get behind the wheel and cause an accident?
The other side may try to settle with you immediately to avoid going through the courts. Although a five-digit settlement might seem tempting at first, it is important to understand several things first. Not all injuries appear immediately following an accident. Many could take weeks or longer to reveal themselves. If you initially settled and signed a release of liability form, you may cannot sue for anything else related to the accident.
In addition, there are several factors that come into play depending upon the laws in your state. These can all get confusing and intimidating. If you have been the victim of a car accident resulting from a drunk driver, you may want to speak with a professional familiar with personal injury law to get a better understanding how the laws work and learn the best way to proceed.
Source: FindLaw, “Hit By a Drunk Driver: Settlement Basics,” Accessed on July 3, 2017
