In the United States, one person dies every 50 minutes due to alcohol-impaired accidents. This adds up to 29 people dying each day because of drunk drivers, and although we know how dangerous it is to drive impaired, people still do it. Click here to learn more about the drunk driving epidemic. A question a lot of people have is what they should do if they suspect a drunk driver.
Stay Away
The first thing to remember if you see someone you suspect may be a drunk driver driving near you is to stay as far away as possible. Their reckless driving is going to be dangerous to you and all the cars around you. You won’t be able to help keep anyone safe if you get in an accident. Staying away from the vehicle includes not passing them. Simply staying alert and cautious is the best way to keep everyone on the road safe and to avoid the need to contact a car accident lawyer.
License Plate Information
The next thing you can do when you suspect a drunk driver is to memorize their license plate and other car information. The most important thing for you to do however is to stay safe. If it puts you or other cars in danger to do this, don’t. If you have a passenger in your car, having them look and write down the information is a great way to safely do this. Again, let’s avoid the need for a car accident lawyer and keep safety as our main priority. Also, note the color, make, model, and specific location of the car.
Pull Over and Call for Help
If you successfully get the suspected drunk driver’s information, pull over and call 911. When they answer, simply tell them you want to report a drunk driver and give them the license plate number, car color, model, and make, and the specific location you saw the car. Don’t attempt to stop the car yourself or follow them. This will only put you and other drivers on the road in more danger. After you have done this, let the police do their job. Continue driving safely your destination as you have done what you can to help.
If we haven’t made it clear enough, your safety should be the priority, always. If you can safely gather information and call 911, do it. Make sure you are always driving responsibly and staying alert for drivers that aren’t, especially during the upcoming holiday season.
If you are involved in a car accident, contacting a car accident lawyer as soon as possible is important. A car accident lawyer has been trained and is an expert at dealing with car crashes and knowing what to do if you are hit by a drunk driver. If you want to learn more about how to get a car accident lawyer or if you need one, contact us here at Robert J. DeBry and Associates today.