Hit by a Drunk Driver Over Fourth of July in San Diego?

What to Do If You’re Hit by a Drunk Driver Over Fourth of July Weekend in San Diego

Fourth of July weekend can change the way a drunk driving accident unfolds.

There may be beach traffic, fireworks crowds, packed parking lots, rideshare vehicles, tourists, and people leaving bars, restaurants, hotels, and holiday parties at the same time. Witnesses may be visiting from out of town. Video may exist for only a short time. Police may be responding to multiple calls across the city.

In that confusion, the first version of the crash is not always the full story.

At Phillips & Pelly, we know drunk driving accident claims are about more than whether the other driver was arrested. They are about what happened, what evidence exists, what insurance applies, and how the crash affected the injured person’s life.

If you were hit by a drunk driver over Fourth of July weekend in San Diego, what you do next matters.

Start With Medical Care and the Police Report

After a suspected drunk driving crash, call 911 if anyone is hurt, if the other driver appears impaired, or if the crash is blocking traffic.

Tell the responding officer what you observed. That may include the smell of alcohol, slurred speech, open containers, erratic driving, admissions by the driver, or attempts to leave the scene.

Do not assume the officer saw everything you saw.

If you need medical care, get it. Pain can become clearer after the adrenaline fades. Medical follow-up protects your health and creates a record of how the crash affected your body.

A DUI Arrest Does Not Pay Your Medical Bills

A drunk driver may face criminal charges after the crash. That case belongs to the state.

Your injury claim is different.

The criminal case may address whether the driver violated California DUI laws. Under California Vehicle Code section 23152, it is unlawful to drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both. The law also includes blood alcohol concentration limits, including 0.08% or more for many drivers.

But your civil claim is about the harm done to you: medical bills, lost income, pain, future treatment, emotional distress, and the long-term impact of the crash.

Our San Diego drunk driver accident lawyers can help you understand how the civil claim may move forward while the criminal case is pending.

Holiday DUI Crash Evidence Can Disappear Quickly

Fourth of July crashes can involve evidence that is hard to recover later.

Witnesses may leave town. Nearby businesses may overwrite video. Rideshare records may need to be requested. Vehicles may be repaired. Scene conditions may change after the holiday traffic clears.

Important evidence may include police reports, 911 calls, EMS records, medical records, witness information, vehicle damage, crash photos, dashcam footage, surveillance footage, rideshare trip records, and details from nearby bars, restaurants, hotels, or event locations.

An attorney can help determine what evidence may exist and work to preserve it before it is lost.

Be Careful With the Insurance Company

After a drunk driving accident, the insurance company may contact you quickly.

They may ask for a recorded statement. They may ask you to describe your injuries before you fully understand them. They may request broad medical authorizations. They may suggest the claim is simple because the other driver was impaired.

Be careful.

The insurance company may still dispute the seriousness of your injuries, the need for future treatment, the cost of your medical care, or the value of your claim.

Before giving a recorded statement or accepting an early offer, speak with a lawyer who understands drunk driver accident claims.

What If You Were a Passenger, Pedestrian, or Rideshare Passenger?

Fourth of July DUI accidents do not only involve drivers.

A drunk driver may injure a passenger, pedestrian, cyclist, rideshare passenger, or someone walking near a beach, intersection, parking lot, hotel, restaurant, or event.

If you were walking when the crash happened, our San Diego pedestrian accident attorneys can evaluate crosswalk issues, visibility, lighting, traffic controls, driver behavior, and road design.

If the crash involved Uber or Lyft, our Uber accident lawyers in San Diego can review whether rideshare coverage may apply.

If you were injured in another type of crash, our San Diego car accident lawyers can evaluate the full insurance picture, including uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.

Do Not Settle Before You Know the Full Cost

A quick settlement may seem helpful after a drunk driving crash. Medical bills may be coming in. You may be missing work. The insurance company may say the offer is fair.

But once you sign a release, the claim may be closed permanently.

If you later need surgery, imaging, injections, physical therapy, pain management, or more time away from work, you may not be able to ask for more compensation.

Before settling, make sure you understand your injuries, future treatment needs, lost income, available insurance coverage, and the full impact of the crash.

California Reporting and Claim Deadlines Still Apply

Even when the other driver is arrested for DUI, accident reporting and claim deadlines still matter.

Under the California DMV accident reporting requirements, an SR-1 report must be sent to the DMV within 10 days if someone is injured or killed, or if property damage is over $1,000. The DMV states that this report is required in addition to any report made to police, CHP, or an insurance company.

In many California personal injury cases, the deadline to file a lawsuit is two years from the date of injury under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.

Some cases may have shorter deadlines, especially if a government vehicle, public employee, dangerous public road condition, unsafe intersection, or public property issue may have contributed to the crash. Under California Government Code section 911.2, certain injury claims against public entities must generally be presented within six months.

Speak With Phillips & Pelly After a Fourth of July Drunk Driving Accident

At Phillips & Pelly, we have represented injury victims throughout San Diego County since 1997. Our firm has recovered over $200 million for accident victims, and we understand how serious drunk driving crashes can affect injured people and their families.

You can review our case results to learn more about past recoveries for injured clients.

If you were hit by a drunk driver over Fourth of July weekend in San Diego, we can help you understand what happened, what evidence may matter, and what options you may have.

Our team handles drunk driver accident, car accident, rideshare accident, pedestrian accident, motorcycle accident, truck accident, and serious injury claims throughout San Diego County. Our San Diego personal injury lawyers can help protect your claim from the start.

Call Phillips & Pelly today for a free case evaluation.

No Win, No Fee. If we accept your case and do not recover compensation for you, you owe no attorney fees.