Drunk driving is a constant concern on the Indiana roads. Alcohol impairment is a leading cause of injurious and fatal collisions. Although you know better than to get behind the wheel after drinking, other people do it despite the risks.
A drunk driver might destroy your vehicle and leave you with injuries that keep you out of work for months or longer. You shouldn’t have to absorb costs caused by someone else’s irresponsible or illegal behavior. There are at least three possible options for compensation that may be available to those directly injured by a drunk driver in Indiana or who lose a loved one to a drunk driving crash.
File an insurance claim
The most straightforward way to pay for car crash expenses is to file a liability insurance claim. The driver who hit you should have liability coverage to help fix your vehicle and cover hospital bills. Bodily injury liability coverage can also apply to your lost wages after you get hurt. Some people will get enough support from insurance, but many others will need to look into additional forms of compensation for their many expenses.
Take the driver to court
Drunk driving is both clearly negligent behavior and illegal. It opens the door to personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits under Indiana state law. The driver who got behind the wheel after drinking may have financial liability for all of the damages and injuries they cause. The courts could grant a judgment awarding the people affected by the crash full compensation for their losses.
Look into a dram shop claim
Indiana also passes some liability on to the businesses that serve alcohol to the public. Bars and restaurants could face lawsuits brought by those affected by a drunk driver. If there is evidence that staff at the business served alcohol to someone who is already visibly drunk or who was under the age of 21, the business may have liability for the crash that resulted.
Some people affected by drunk driving crashes will require a combination of all three forms of compensation just to recoup their losses. Understanding the options available to you after a motor vehicle collision will help you defray your costs.