When a Drunk Driver Changes Everything
If you or someone you love has been injured by a drunk driver, the steps you take in the hours and days after the crash will affect everything that comes next — your recovery, your insurance claim, and your legal rights. Acting quickly and protecting your documentation can make the difference between a denied claim and full compensation.
At Gallon, Takacs & Boissoneault, our car accident lawyers have fought for injured victims for over 70 years. With offices in Toledo, Maumee, Monroe, Fremont, Lima, Findlay, Mansfield, Sandusky, and Defiance, we represent clients across state lines, helping victims hold reckless drivers accountable.
Drunk Driving Statistics and Crash Impact
Drunk driving remains one of the most preventable yet devastating causes of motor vehicle crashes in the United States. National research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that alcohol impairment continues to play a major role in serious and fatal collisions across the country.
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Roughly one in every three traffic deaths involves a driver impaired by alcohol.
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Thousands more suffer catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, or multiple fractures that require long-term medical care.
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The economic impact of drunk-driving crashes in the United States is staggering — estimated at nearly $70 billion each year when accounting for medical costs, lost productivity, emergency response, and property damage, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
For victims and families across Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, these numbers represent far more than statistics—they reflect the lasting consequences of another person’s reckless decision. The emotional, physical, and financial toll of a drunk-driving crash can extend for years, which is why pursuing justice and holding impaired drivers accountable is so important.
What to Do After a Drunk Driving Accident
Knowing what to do after being injured by a drunk driver can make all the difference in protecting your health, your claim, and your future. In the aftermath of a crash, emotions run high and decisions can feel overwhelming — but taking the right steps early can help you secure vital evidence, receive proper medical care, and preserve your legal rights.
Below are the key steps our car accident lawyers recommend following after a drunk driving crash to ensure you’re protected physically, financially, and legally.
Step 1: Call 911 and Get Help Immediately
Your first priority is safety. Call 911 as soon as you can, even if you think your injuries are minor. Police and emergency medical personnel are trained to handle the unique dangers of drunk-driving crashes. Officers will document the scene, question the drivers, and may perform field sobriety tests, breath analysis, or blood draws if impairment is suspected.
Those medical and law-enforcement records become critical evidence later. They show that alcohol or drugs contributed to the collision — something that can greatly strengthen your claim for damages.
If you’re on a busy corridor such as Monroe Street in Toledo, Reynolds Road, or I-75 through Monroe County, remain inside your vehicle with hazard lights on until help arrives unless it’s unsafe to do so.
Even in the chaos, try to:
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Note the officer’s name, badge number, and crash-report ID.
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Observe any signs of impairment (slurred speech, open containers, odor of alcohol).
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Ask witnesses for contact information before they leave.
Step 2: Accept Medical Care — Even if You Think You’re Fine
Allow paramedics to examine you at the scene and follow their recommendation to go to the hospital. In more severe wrecks, you may undergo:
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Blood work to check internal injury markers or alcohol exposure levels to rule out brain bleeds, fractures, or organ damage.
Even if you are released the same day, schedule a follow-up with your primary care doctor or a specialist within 24–48 hours. Your medical records, test results, and follow-up notes are the backbone of your claim — they connect your injuries directly to the crash.Many victims later develop complications like nerve pain, chronic headaches, or post-concussive symptoms that weren’t obvious at first. Keeping detailed documentation helps your personal injury attorney prove the full extent of your harm.
Step 3: Preserve and Collect Evidence
Once you’re safe and receiving medical care, it’s important to protect what evidence you can. This includes both physical proof and digital documentation.
If you’re able, or if a family member can help, try to:
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Take photos of the vehicles, skid marks, road debris, and any visible injuries.
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Capture nearby landmarks — like intersections, traffic lights, or business signs — that may have surveillance cameras.
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Save all medical discharge papers, imaging reports, and prescriptions.
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Keep clothing worn during the crash if it shows blood, seatbelt marks, or airbag residue.
Even small details matter. A receipt from a gas station minutes before the crash could later prove the drunk driver’s location or alcohol purchase.
If law enforcement collects your vehicle or belongings for investigation, make sure you know where items are stored and request copies of any crash reports or test results once they’re available.
Insurance coverage is the first financial resource available after a drunk driving accident, but it’s rarely straightforward. Call your insurance company promptly to report the collision and start a claim. Provide only basic information — time, location, parties involved, and the police report number. Avoid giving recorded statements until you’ve spoken to an attorney. Insurance representatives for the at-fault driver will often reach out quickly, trying to secure your version of events before you’ve had time to process your injuries. A good accident attorney or car accident lawyer can step in immediately to handle communications, protect your rights, and make sure no one pressures you into a premature or low settlement. Insurance investigations often run parallel to criminal DUI proceedings. If the impaired driver is convicted, that conviction strengthens your civil claim and can even open the door to punitive damages — additional compensation meant to punish reckless behavior.
Navigating the aftermath of a drunk driving crash is complex. Criminal charges address punishment, but your personal injury lawyer handles the civil side — securing money for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and long-term care. Choosing a local attorney matters. At Gallon, Takacs & Boissoneault, our team has represented injured drivers across Toledo, Monroe, Maumee, and throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan for over seven decades. We are familiar with the roadways, courts, and tactics that insurers use to minimize claims. Your lawyer can: Reconstruct the accident using crash reports, toxicology results, and expert testimony. Communicate directly with insurance adjusters and prosecutors handling the DUI case. Identify every possible source of recovery — including the driver’s insurance, your own uninsured/underinsured coverage, and third-party liability. Manage medical liens, bills, and settlement negotiations so you can focus on healing. You’ll work directly with one attorney from start to finish, ensuring personal attention and a consistent strategy.
Step 4: Notify Your Insurance — but Be Cautious
Step 5: Work with a Local, Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer
Victims of drunk driving accidents may be entitled to multiple forms of compensation, depending on the injuries and how long recovery takes. Damages may include: Medical expenses (hospitalization, surgeries, rehabilitation, prescriptions) Lost wages or diminished earning capacity Pain, suffering, and emotional distress Property damage Long-term disability or loss of life enjoyment Punitive damages in extreme cases If your injuries prevent you from returning to work for months or even permanently, your attorney may also explore workers’ compensation or Social Security Disability benefits. This crossover approach ensures you don’t miss any benefits while your personal injury claim is pending. Severe drunk driving crashes often cause lasting disabilities — brain injuries, mobility limitations, or chronic pain — and these require coordinated legal and medical strategies to ensure lifelong financial protection.
In drunk-driving injury cases, fault is usually clear — but insurance companies still require proof. Evidence must show not only that the other driver was impaired but also that their impairment caused your injuries. This may include: Police toxicology and blood test results Eyewitness or surveillance footage showing erratic driving Crash reconstruction data and vehicle black-box readings Emergency room toxicology or trauma records Phone records to determine if distracted driving was a factor Your attorney will collect, organize, and preserve this evidence to establish negligence beyond dispute.
Step 6: Understand Your Right to Compensation
How Fault and Evidence Intersect
In both Ohio and Michigan, you generally have a limited time — called the statute of limitations — to file a personal injury claim. The sooner you contact an attorney, the sooner evidence can be preserved, witnesses can be interviewed, and insurance carriers can be notified before deadlines expire. Waiting too long can make it difficult to prove the link between the drunk driver’s actions and your injuries, especially if evidence like surveillance video or toxicology results is lost or sealed after criminal proceedings conclude.
Victims of drunk driving crashes often experience anxiety, insomnia, or post-traumatic stress long after their physical injuries heal. Emotional trauma is a legitimate component of your damages claim. It’s important to tell your providers about flashbacks, fear of driving, or depression so those symptoms are documented. Your attorney can use those records to pursue compensation for emotional suffering — something insurance companies often try to minimize. At Gallon, Takacs & Boissoneault, we understand that healing means more than paying bills; it’s about reclaiming your life after trauma.
When a drunk driver changes your life, you need more than an insurance adjuster’s apology — you need a law firm that will stand up for you. At Gallon, Takacs & Boissoneault, we hold negligent and impaired drivers accountable and fight for the full compensation you deserve. Whether you’re facing hospital bills, lost wages, or lifelong injuries, we can help you: Understand your legal rights and recovery options Deal with insurance companies and complex liability issues Seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and future care needs Hold the drunk driver legally and financially responsible You don’t have to face this alone. Our local car accident lawyers offer compassionate guidance and proven results — and you pay nothing unless we win. Call 419-843-6663 or contact us online today for a free, confidential consultation with a drunk driving accident lawyer serving Ohio and Michigan. Take the first step toward justice and recovery today.
Why Quick Legal Action Matters
Healing Beyond the Physical
Get the Legal Support You Deserve After a Drunk Driving Accident
Jonathan Ashton, Partner and Personal Injury Attorney, began his law career at GT&B in 2007 as a law clerk. He was hired as an associate immediately after passing the Ohio Bar in 2008. Jonathan practices in Personal Injury, representing clients who have been injured and need justice and compensation for them to move forward in their lives.
