Bakersfield motorists struck by drunk drivers can seek full compensation for their hospital bills, their lost time at work, and their car repair costs.
Drivers may face DUI charges and have to go to court, but victims don’t have to wait for the outcome. They can file an insurance claim or a civil lawsuit whenever they are ready, and seek support as they rebuild their health and their finances.
A skilled attorney can help you stick up for your rights as a victim and secure more. Our Bakersfield car accident lawyers offer a free, no-obligation consultation for all accident victims in Kern County. It’s an easy way to determine what your injuries are worth and how to hold an insurer fully accountable.
What to Do If You Are Struck by a Drunk Driver
If you are struck by someone you believe is drunk or impaired by drugs, there are actions to take on the scene that can help back your case with evidence.
But safety comes first. Contact 911, and if you or someone else is hurt, request an ambulance.
Then, once the scene is secure, try to follow these steps to make sure justice is served:
- Get photos of the scene. Show the damage to vehicles from different angles. If you see any beer bottles, liquor bottles, or drug paraphernalia in the other driver’s vehicle, try to get photos. But don’t put yourself in danger.
- Alert the Bakersfield Police Department or the CHP. When investigating officers get your side of what happened, be sure to mention anything you saw that made you think the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Mention if you smelled alcohol on the driver’s breath or saw very bloodshot eyes if you talked to them. Detail the driver’s actions just before the collision.
- Get witness contact information. Talk to witnesses and take notes on what they saw. Turn this information over to your lawyer.
- Get checked out by paramedics and your own doctor. Alert paramedics to every pain you have and go to the emergency room if necessary. Also, schedule an appointment with your own doctor. Shock can hide the symptoms of an injury on the day of an accident and during a visit to the ER. But you might wake up a day or two later with pain in a new spot. A doctor can help you determine if you have other injuries, such as a hairline fracture.
- Alert your own car insurance company. On the day of the accident, notify your insurance agent, even if you had nothing to do with causing the crash.
- Secure the accident report from the investigating officer. A week or two after the incident, an accident report should be available. This will act as strong evidence in your favor, hopefully confirming the drunk driver’s fault and any charges issued. Learn how to secure your police accident report in Bakersfield. If you hire an attorney, your attorney will secure this document for you.
- Contact an attorney. You’ll have two years to file an accident claim against the driver’s insurance company, but you shouldn’t wait to file. If you need a lawyer for your case, it’s a good idea to get them started in the first days or weeks after your accident. Important evidence can disappear, and witnesses can become harder to locate. Surveillance video can get erased. Call a Bakersfield Car Accident Lawyer as soon as you can.
Drunk Driving Accident Dangers in Bakersfield
Sadly, Motorists can encounter drivers under the influence at any time of day in Bakersfield. They may see a weaving driver on Ming Avenue during the rush hour drive home. They may encounter a wrong-way drunk driver along Highway 99 at night after going out for dinner.
These are especially dangerous meetings, because it’s very hard to predict the actions of a driver who’s been drinking or using drugs. That makes it harder to avoid them. Drunk drivers also don’t recognize when they are going to crash, so they don’t always have the presence of mind to slam on the brakes to avoid an impact. This means that collisions often involve more impact force and more serious injuries.
- In 2024, Bakersfield recorded 192 accidents involving injury blamed on a drunk driver. Those accidents led to at least 16 tragic deaths. That’s according to California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) data.
Support for the Victims of a DUI-Involved Accident
These types of accidents can result in traumatic and life-changing injuries. It’s why a skilled attorney would demand support for every medical the victim currently has, and enough to cover any care the victim may need in the future. Every paycheck lost while victims are in too much pain to go to work must be replaced. The physical pain and emotional strain an accident can cause must also factor into the size of a settlement check.
A Bakersfield wrongful death lawyer can also file a claim for families who have lost a loved one to an impaired driver’s mistake. Families should get help with funeral costs and leftover medical bills. The income the victim may have supported the family with must be replaced for the future. Their loss of companionship must also be factored in.
We Back Your Case with Powerful Evidence and Make Sure Drunk Drivers Are Held Accountable
If you have a serious injury, and a driver under the influence caused your accident, contact Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Bakersfield to schedule a free consultation. It’s a confidential, no-obligation review of your case with a real Bakersfield car accident attorney.
Your full recovery becomes our number one mission. We don’t stop fighting until you are 100% healed and have the money you need to restore your normal life.
If you end up needing our help to prove a driver was intoxicated and caused your accident and injuries, you don’t have to worry about how you’ll afford a great lawyer. We don’t charge anything up front, and we only get paid if we win your case for you. Then our attorney’s fee comes out of the settlement check that an insurance company writes for you.