Ylla Gosney, Attorneys at Law can help you if you’ve been injured in an accident because someone was driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Tuttle. When people hear about a DWI, most jump to alcohol. But more and more, it means people driving while on illegal drugs. Just like alcohol (and sometimes more), illegal drugs can make DWI accidents much more serious. We can help you through what comes next. Set up a free consultation today.
Why a Lawyer Makes Sense
Getting hurt in a car accident is hard enough. Finding out the other driver may have been using illegal drugs at the time can make things even more complicated.
You still have all the normal problems that come after an accident—medical bills, car damage, missed work, and figuring out how you’re going to pay for everything. But now there are also questions about whether the other driver was impaired and what that means for your claim.
That’s when talking to a lawyer makes sense, and our team can help you with:
- Looking at the police report, what witnesses saw, the damage to the vehicles, and your medical records to get a clear picture of what happened.
- Figuring out what evidence is there. If the other driver was using drugs, there may be things in the police report or other records that help establish that.
- Dealing with the insurance company for you. You already have enough to worry about while you’re recovering. You shouldn’t have to argue with an insurance adjuster about your injuries or what the accident has done to your life.
You don’t automatically need a lawyer after every car accident in Tuttle. But when drugs, serious injuries, and insurance companies are all involved, having someone handle the legal side can take a lot off your plate.
What Should I Look For After a Drug-Impaired Accident?
It’s not always obvious right away that drugs were involved in an accident. The other driver may seem confused, act strangely, or say something that makes you think something is off. But you probably won’t know for sure, and that’s okay.
It’s not your job to confront or accuse them. Instead, your focus should be on calling 911, reporting the accident, and getting police and an ambulance to the scene. Then, if it’s safe, you can try to get a few basic details like:
- Pictures or videos of the vehicles, road conditions, traffic signals, and any visible injuries
- Names and contact information for anyone who saw the accident
- The other driver’s license and insurance information, if you’re comfortable getting it
- Anything unusual you noticed about the other driver, including things they said or how they were acting
Again, only do these things if you feel up to it. If you’re hurt, shaken up, or worried about your safety, let the police handle the scene. Then, once you’re away from the accident and have had some time to recover, keep track of things like:
- Your medical records and bills
- Copies of the police report and any toxicology or drug testing records that become available
- Nearby surveillance or traffic camera footage that may have captured the accident
- Pictures showing how your injuries have progressed
- Notes about how your injuries have affected your everyday life
- Pay records showing time you’ve missed from work
There’s a lot to deal with after a car accident, and you shouldn’t feel like you have to figure everything out while you’re standing on the side of the road. That doesn’t change when the other driver is on drugs, and usually makes the situation worse. But there’s still a claims process to think about, and with that, all the details matter.
Where Do Drug-Impaired Driving Accidents Happen in Tuttle?
A car accident can happen anywhere in Tuttle. There’s no particular road that makes a driver more likely to be impaired by drugs. What does matter is that Tuttle has some roads where a mistake by an impaired driver can have pretty serious consequences. That includes:
- I-44 and the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. Traffic is moving fast, so a driver who isn’t paying attention can cause a serious crash in a matter of seconds.
- State Highway 37. This runs right through Tuttle and sees plenty of local and through traffic.
- State Highway 4. Drivers use it to get between Tuttle, Mustang, and other nearby communities.
- Main Street and other local roads. There are plenty of intersections, businesses, turning vehicles, and other things that require drivers to pay attention.
The problem with drug-impaired drivers is that they may not react when they’re supposed to. They may miss a stop sign, drift into another lane, fail to brake, or simply not see another vehicle coming. And when that happens, the person who gets hurt isn’t always the person who made the bad decision. It’s you.
What Damages Can I Get After a Drug-Impaired Car Accident?
While it seems obvious, your options and the financial support you can get from them aren’t automatic when the other driver was impaired by drugs and injures you in a car accident. It’s still a matter of formally making a claim, and to do that, you either have to:
- File an insurance claim outside of court
- File a personal injury lawsuit
Once that’s done, the focus shifts to what you’ve actually lost because of the accident. That might include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Current lost income or a loss of future earnings
- Repair/replacement costs for your car
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Funeral and burial expenses if the accident resulted in a death
In some situations involving particularly reckless conduct, punitive damages may also be available. You also need to pay attention to the deadline. Oklahoma generally gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. That might sound like a long time, but it can go by quickly when you’re dealing with a serious injury and other problems that come with this type of accident.
Who Pays for My Damages When the Other Driver Was Using Illegal Drugs?
This is the other part of the claims process that seems obvious after one of these accidents. When the other driver was on drugs, it’s pretty clear negligence. That means they’re going to largely be responsible for paying for your damages.
But don’t assume the insurance company is going to make things easy just because their driver was using drugs. In fact, they still have control of their policy, so they still get to ask questions or try to interpret the facts in a way that means they don’t have to pay you as much. On top of that, it’s not always the sole responsibility of the impaired driver, either. Depending on the circumstances, there’s others that might share some of the responsibility, like:
- Whoever gave the driver the car. If someone knowingly let an impaired person drive their car, that could bring them into a share of responsibility.
- Whoever knew the driver was impaired. If someone knew the driver wasn’t in any condition to drive and still allowed them behind the wheel, that’s something worth looking into. That can happen to event hosts, bars, restaurants, or anyone else.
- Another driver. Like any other car accident, a third driver could be involved, and if they were also being negligent or careless, they can share some of the responsibility for paying for your damages.
The impaired driver is usually going to be at the center of the claim. But you don’t want to assume that’s the whole story before you know all the facts. That’s something we can help with. We’ll look at what happened, figure out who may be responsible, and help you understand your options.
Free Consultations For Drug-Impaired Car Accident Victims in Tuttle
Nobody in Tuttle expects to get hurt because another driver decided to get behind the wheel after using illegal drugs. But when it happens, you’re the one who has to deal with the consequences.
If you’ve been injured in a drug-impaired car accident, our Tuttle car accident lawyers at Ylla Gosney, Attorneys at Law can help you figure out what happened and what your options are. We’ll help you deal with the insurance company and work toward getting you the support you need to get better. Set up a free consultation today.