ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — If you or a loved one are hit by a drunk driver, you have rights as a victim in the case. If the driver happens to be on job at the time, you have more options for legal recourse.
Attorney Mark Hanks specializes in personal injury cases in addition to family law and criminal defense. He says there are three important things to do after you’ve been hit by someone else in a car accident.
- Take photos. LOTS of photos.
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible.
- Follow doctor’s instructions and don’t skip follow-up appointments.
“In any personal injury case, what I tell clients repeatedly over and over is you have to follow the recommendations of your doctors,” said Hanks.
“So many times people don’t do that, they don’t go back to appointments, they skip appointments and every time they skip appointments, that’s one plus for the insurance company.”
If a driver is under the influence when they crash into you or a loved one, you have the ability to sue for punitive damages in addition to recouping expenses. If the driver who hits you is on the job, their employer can possibly be held liable.
However, only the driver is liable for punitive damages in a DUI case.
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