Suffering serious injuries as the result of being struck by a drunk driver can leave you with a lot of questions. For instance, you may be wondering if you have the right to sue despite criminal charges being filed against the drunk driver. You may also find yourself questioning whether or not you should hire an attorney or whether you should contact the insurance company directly. Thankfully, you have found yourself in the right place because the answers to these questions can be found below.

Do You Have The Right To Sue Even If Criminal Charges Have Been Filed?

In short, the answer to this question is yes, you absolutely have the right to file a civil suit even if the drunk driver who hit you is facing criminal DUI charges. This is because while a criminal case seeks justice by making the drunk driver suffer legal consequences for breaking the law, the outcome of this criminal case will not provide any compensation for you as an injured victim. In order to ensure you are compensated for your injuries, the law allows for both a criminal and a civil case to be filed as the result of a single accident. Perhaps more importantly, the law allows for these two cases to be heard concurrently. This means that there is no need to wait for the criminal case to be settled before filing a civil claim with the help of a DUI injury attorney.

Should You Contact The Insurance Company Directly Or Hire A Lawyer?

Car insurance companies handle a countless number of personal injury claims each day. Furthermore, it is their job to handle these claims in a manner that allows them to pay as little as possible on each claim. This means that you are already at a rather significant disadvantage if you choose to take on the insurance company on your own. That is why it is always better to contact an experienced DUI injury attorney before entering into any negotiations with the insurance company.

A qualified DUI injury attorney will be able to determine the exact amount of damages that you are entitled to for not only your medical expenses but for any other losses that you may have suffered as well. Your attorney will then be able to fight aggressively in order to ensure you get all of the compensation that you are entitled to under the law. To learn more about what type of damages may apply in your specific case, be sure to contact a DUI injury attorney in your area as soon as possible after your accident.