Maison Law can help you if you’re hurt in a car accident where another driver was intoxicated by illegal drugs in Fresno. In a lot of ways, driving while intoxicated by these substances are even more dangerous than alcohol. One way or the other though, you and your family are the ones who are left dealing with the painful aftermath. Our team can help you through the claims process and make sure you have what you need to heal. Set up a free consultation today.
Do I Even Need a Lawyer?
Being in a situation where you’re injured in a car accident where the other driver was on illegal drugs at the time is never ideal. Everybody understands that it’s dangerous and the outcomes are more serious in these kinds of car accidents.
But that doesn’t mean the process is simple. You have all the normal problems that come with car accidents—injuries, car damage, pain, and mounting bills—but unclear answers. That’s where our team at Maison Law can help you by:
- Explaining your options early on—before deadlines pass or decisions are made that are hard to undo.
- Looking closely at the police report, witness statements, and medical records to piece together your losses and whether the driver was on drugs at the time.
- Dealing directly with the insurance company so you’re not stuck explaining what happened while you’re still recovering.
So yes, you don’t always need a lawyer for a car accident in Fresno. But when things get complicated—like they do with illegal drugs—legal help can be really beneficial.
What Evidence Should I Look For After One of These Accidents?
This is another spot where you still need a foundation even if it seems obvious why the car accident happened. When you suspect that the other driver is on illegal drugs, you still need evidence that shows that. Here’s what you can focus on:
- The police report. Even when an arrest isn’t made, officers often note signs of possible impairment in their accident report. This usually notes any confusion, delayed reactions, unusual behavior, or drug paraphernalia found at the scene.
- Witness statements. Other drivers, passengers, or bystanders may have noticed erratic driving or behavior that didn’t seem normal before the accident.
- Photos or videos from the scene. Pictures of the vehicles, road conditions, skid marks, and where the cars ended up can help explain how the accident unfolded.
- Dash cam or body cam footage. Sometimes footage captures the driver’s behavior or statements in a way written reports can’t fully describe.
- Medical records. Your medical records show the injuries you suffered and help connect them directly to the accident.
- Your own notes. Write down what you remember as soon as you can—how the driver acted, anything they said, and how you felt physically and emotionally afterward. Small details can fade faster than people expect.
Remember, it’s not your job to prove that the other driver was on drugs. Don’t confront them. Let the police handle making a decision on intoxication. Your focus should be on your health, safety, and showing how the accident has hurt you.
Where Do Drug-Impaired Driving Accidents Happen in Fresno?
It’s true that drug-impaired car accidents can happen anywhere in Fresno. Anytime somebody chooses to use drugs and then drive puts everyone else at risk. But the fact is, certain parts of the city see more of these kinds of accidents:
- Major highways and heavy-traffic areas like Highway 99, Highway 41, and Highway 168.
- Intersections along roads like Blackstone Avenue, Shaw Avenue, and Herndon Avenue.
- Poorly lit roads or ones that have more sparse traffic like Olive Avenue or Jensen Avenue.
What all of these areas have in common are pretty simple to understand. Either they’re busier and require much more attention or they’re less busy and give drug-impaired drivers a false sense of security. But again, they have very real consequences. The question then becomes what can you do if you’re the one that’s hurt?
How Do I Recover Damages After an Accident With a Drug-Impaired Driver?
So far, everything we’ve covered is hypothetical. But what isn’t hypothetical in a drug-impaired car accident are your injuries and other losses. In legal terms, these are called your “damages” and you can recover them by filing an injury claim.
Now the way you do that is up to you, but generally, you can either file:
- An insurance claim out of court.
- A personal injury lawsuit in civil court.
But again, filing a claim is all about your damages. That depends on the specifics of your accident, but when the other driver is impaired by drugs at the time, your injuries and the resulting damage is typically much more serious. Your damages are going to be made up of things like:
- Medical bills now and in the future
- Lost income and reduced earning ability
- Vehicle and property damage
- Physical pain and ongoing limitations
- Emotional stress and mental strain
- Changes to your day-to-day life
- Funeral and burial costs in fatal accidents
- Punitive damages in extreme cases of reckless behavior
There’s something important to remember here: you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file an injury claim in California. If that deadline passes, you usually lose the ability to recover damages—no matter how clear the other driver’s responsibility may be.
Who Pays for My Damages When the Other Driver Was Using Illegal Drugs?
Probably the most obvious thing about a car accident where the other driver is impaired by drugs is that they’re responsible for what happens and legally responsible for paying for your damages.
But that doesn’t mean the process is automatic. Insurance companies still look for ways to minimize what they have to pay, which can make these claims more complicated than they appear at first.
There’s also another important factor to keep in mind: the impaired driver isn’t always the only person who may share responsibility. Depending on what happened, others could share in the liability, like:
- Someone who knowingly allowed an impaired driver to take their vehicle
- A friend or passenger who knew the driver shouldn’t be behind the wheel
- A person who handed over car keys despite clear signs of impairment
- Someone who provided illegal drugs knowing the driver planned to drive
- A company that ignored safety rules meant to prevent impaired driving
In most situations, the impaired driver is still going to be the main person responsible for what happened. But sometimes other people may share part of the responsibility depending on the circumstances. When that happens, it can open up additional paths for covering the losses the accident caused. And you don’t have to go through the process on your own. Our team will be with you from the beginning.
Free Consultations For Drug-Impaired Car Accident Victims in Fresno
Nobody in Fresno wants to be hurt in a car accident. But the stark reality is that other drivers make bad decisions every day. Few decisions are worse than driving while on illegal drugs. When that happens and you get hurt, you can turn to our Fresno DWI car accident lawyers at Maison Law. We’ll explain what the path forward looks like and what you need for a successful claim. Set up a free consultation today.
