I was hit by a drunk driver and injured, can I sue?
Question Details:
I was hit by a drunk driver and although not seriously injured, I was in physical therapy for my neck and back for 3 weeks. I'm thinking about taking action against the drunk driver. What is the best way to start this process?
Well it depends on if the drunk driver was at fault and/or whether or not you contributed in any way to the accident. If the answer to the former is yes and the later is no, then yes you do have a case. First thing to do is hire a personal injury attorney. You could do the case yourself, but the drunk driver's insurance company is likely not to offer fair value because they think you don't know.
I am sorry to hear that you were involved in such an accident. To best evaluate your case, an attorney will want to review the police report and medical records. These will help determine whether you have a good case and if so, what type of possible money damages are appropriate. If you lost time from work, the attorney will also want to see your paystubs.
If you do not have these records your attorney can get them for you. Assuming that the accident occured in Maryland, you will probably want to contact a car accident lawyer in Maryland and discuss the specific facts of your case. Many attorneys handle such cases on a contingency basis, which means attorney fees are paid out of any recovery. In some cases if the injuries are minor you may decide to represent yourself although it is a good idea to have an attorney working on your behalf. Note that Maryland is a contributory negligence state and not every accident is compensable. While not legal advice, I hope that this answer helps guide you in the right direction.
