What Should I Do If I See a Drunk Driver?

• Keep a safe distance from the vehicle
• Do not try to pass or get the vehicle to pull over
• Try to get the license plate number, the make and model of the vehicle along with the color, however, don’t risk your safety to do so
• Pull over and call 9-1-1 to report the driver and give as accurate a report as possible of what you saw, including your location, the direction in which the other vehicle was driving, and the driver’s behavior
• Leave the rest to the police

How Does Indiana Fight Drunk Driving?

Indiana enforces a strict no-tolerance policy when it comes to drunk driving. The state even operates sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols which according to MADD are defined as “…a concentrated enforcement effort that targets impaired drivers by observing moving violations such as reckless driving, speeding, aggressive driving, and other things.”

However, despite efforts across the state to lessen the harmful effects of such negligent and law-breaking drivers, 29 percent of fatal collisions in 2012 involved drivers who were legally impaired, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Meanwhile, 33 percent of traffic fatalities in the state involved drivers with alcohol in their system. That’s why it pays to know how to react if you see a drunk driver while out on the road.

What If a Drunk Driver Injures a Family Member or Myself?

A drunk driver can devastate your life and that of your family in a matter of seconds, striking at any time of day and in any setting driving home from school during the day, going to the gym after work or heading to dinner on the weekend.

Resulting medical care – both immediate and long-term – can be overwhelming. You may even find yourself facing expensive property damages along with the loss of income and numerous issues related to pain and suffering. That’s where a personal injury lawyer can help.

Indiana’s Dram Shop Law (as defined in Indiana Code 7.1-5-10-15 and 7.1-5-10-15.5) means that a third-party may be found liable for selling and/or providing alcohol to a person who is clearly intoxicated and that later causes a drunk driving accident. However, “clearly” means that the third-party had to know the person was intoxicated, which can be hard to prove.

Recklessly or knowingly selling/providing alcohol to a minor can also make the seller/provider liable in your accident as well. A lawyer understands how to help prove these instances and more, so set up a consultation today.

If you’ve been in an Indiana car accident due to the reckless driving of a drunk driver, call Hensley Legal Group to set up a consultation with an attorney.